Antibiotics Susceptibility Studies of Bacteria Isolated from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State

Abstract

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are heavily contaminated with different microorganisms. This research was designed to isolate bacteria inhabiting ATMs of various banks in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, and to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the bacteria isolated. A total of ten (10) samples were collected from five (5) different banks in duplicates. The samples were collected using sterile swab sticks and immediately transported to the Applied Microbiology laboratory for analysis. The swab sticks were inserted into nutrient broth for 24 hours for enrichment before streaking on different selective media and incubating for 24 hours at 37 ⁰C. After incubation, the observed colonies were identified using standard microbiological and biochemical tests and were suspected to be Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella species. Antibiotics susceptibility tests carried out on the organisms showed that S. aureus was resistant to amoxicillin (100 %), tetracycline (66.7 %), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (83.3 %), but was susceptible to amikacin and levofloxacin (100 %) each and ceftriaxone (83.3 %). E. coli showed a high resistance rate to tetracycline and amoxicillin (80 %) and 60 % to amikacin, cefepime, and ciprofloxacin, but was sensitive to ceftriaxone and vancomycin (100 %), doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and tobramycin (80 %). Salmonella spp has shown to be extensively drug-resistant, hence, the antibiotics susceptibility studies revealed the isolates to be resistant to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin (83.3 %), and even ceftriaxone which is known to be a third-generation cephalosporin used in the treatment of resistant organisms. However, the organism was sensitive to levofloxacin (100 %) and cefepime (83.3 %). Antibiotics to which the microorganisms showed sensitivity can be successfully used in combating infections caused by these organisms.