Antimicrobial knowledge among communities and sSusceptibility patterns of staphylococcus aureus isolated form wildlife-livestock-human Interface at Lake Mburo National Park, Western Uganda

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance has become a global public health concern because of the organisms causing infections are becoming resistant to most commonly prescribed antibiotic treatments, resulting in prolonged illness and greater risk of death. The knowledge of antimicrobial resistance is extremely vital to human, livestock and wildlife health. Such information can be relevant in understanding patterns of disease occurrences and prediction of emerging resistant bacteria strains. This cross-sectional study was aimed at assessing antimicrobial knowledge among host communities and susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from wildlife-livestock-human interface at Lake Mburo National Park. A total of 277 samples were collected from domestic animals (58), humans (159), and wild animals (60). Isolation and identification were done for the Staphylococcus aureus organism and antimicrobial susceptibility determined using the disc diffusion test. The results indicated that the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was 17 (6.1%). From all the eight antimicrobial drugs used Staphylococcus aureus was most susceptible to Gentamicin (100%), Ciprofloxacin (100%), Imipenem (100%), Chloramphenicol (100%), Trimethoprim (94.1%) and Ceftriaxone (94.1%) respectively. Tetracycline and Ampicillin were the most resistant drugs by the Staphylococcus aureus species at 10 (58.8%) and 2(11.7%) respectively. Almost all participants 109 (93.2%) did not know how antimicrobial resistance came about and (70.1%) did not know that it could affect treatment outcome. In conclusion, we observed 17 (6.1%) isolates of Staphylococcus aureus which were more susceptible to Gentamicin, Ciprofloxacin, Imipenem and Chloramphenicol followed by Trimethoprim and Ceftriaxone but showed resistance to Tetracycline and Ampicillin which are frequently used by the communities around the wildlife-livestock-human interface in western Uganda. Therefore, there is need for broader susceptibility studies not only focusing on Staphylococcus aureus but also other micro-organisms. Additionally, policy and laboratory based antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be encouraged through continued data sharing, large-scale collaboration, and coordination of all stakeholders to understand and manage the national AMR burden.