Plasmid Curing of Bacteria Isolated from Upper Respiratory Tract Infections among Patients Attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto

Abstract

Study’s Novelty/Excerpt This study focuses on curing plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance in bacteria associated with upper respiratory tract infections in patients at Specialist Hospital Sokoto, an area previously underexplored in this context. It uniquely demonstrates the successful reversal of antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through plasmid curing experiments, highlighting the significant role of plasmids in resistance mechanisms. Additionally, the study underscores the potential for plasmid-mediated resistance to be transferred among bacterial populations, presenting a critical concern for antimicrobial resistance management in the region. Full Abstract Presences of resistant plasmids (R-plasmids) in microorganisms make the cells avert the effect of antibiotics and complicates chemotherapy of infections.  This study aimed to cure the plasmid of antibiotic-resistant bacteria associated with upper respiratory tract infections among patients attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto by reassessing their susceptibility to antibiotics that were previously resistant.  One hundred (100) throat swab samples were collected and analysed.  The isolates were isolated and identified using standard methods (Gram staining, biochemical and serological tests).  The susceptibility of the isolates to various beta-lactam antibiotics was evaluated, and resistant bacteria were subjected to plasmid curing experiments followed by further susceptibility testing to reassess their susceptibility to the erstwhile resistance.  Bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with the frequency of occurrence of 20 (57.2%), 9 (25.7%), and 6 (17.1%), respectively.  The result of antibiotic susceptibility tests before plasmid curing showed that Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resisted Cloxacilline, Cefuroxime, Cloxacillin and Augmentin.  Susceptibility results after curing showed that almost all bacteria have reverted to sensitivity to all antibiotics except Cloxacillin and Augmentin.  This research implies that the resistance possessed by the bacterial isolates is plasmid-mediated and may easily be transferred to other non-resistant bacteria, which may lead to an alarming rate of antimicrobial resistance in the study area.