Isolation, Identification and Antibiotic Sensitivity of Bacteria from Sore Throat Patients

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to isolate and identify bacterial pathogens from patients diagnosed with sore throat infections and to evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Throat swabs were obtained from patients presenting with sore throat symptoms at selected hospitals in Sokoto, the collected throat swab samples were inoculated onto specific culture media to isolate and identify bacterial pathogens associated with sore throat. A total of five bacterial isolates were obtained from the sore throat samples, including Bacillus subtilis (40%), Streptococcus pyogenes (20%), and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (40%). The isolates were characterized based on their morphological and biochemical features, with Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus being the most frequent pathogens. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that Streptococcus pyogenes exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics, including ceftriaxone and cefoperazone, while Staphylococcus saprophyticus showed a relatively higher susceptibility to most antibiotics. Bacillus subtilis displayed intermediate resistance to gentamicin and other antibiotics. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was prevalent in Streptococcus pyogenes (MDR to 8 antibiotics) and Bacillus subtilis (MDR to 7 antibiotics), while Staphylococcus saprophyticus showed resistance to five antibiotics, categorizing it as a non-MDR strain. The findings highlight the emerging concern of antibiotic resistance among bacterial pathogens associated with sore throat infections in Sokoto, Nigeria. The study concludes that regular surveillance of bacterial pathogens and their resistance patterns is crucial to guide effective treatment strategies. Recommendations include promoting prudent antibiotic use, enhancing diagnostic capabilities, and exploring alternative treatment options. Additionally, public health campaigns are needed to raise awareness of the risks associated with self-medication and the overuse of antibiotics. These efforts are essential to manage and mitigate the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in clinical settings.