1.1 Introduction
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen; it has higher prevalence and mortality rate in hospital environment, especially among patients, particularly those with burns, wounds and cancer and in the critically ill admitted in intensive care unit. P. aeruginosa is resistant to several antimicrobial agents and therefore become dominant and important when more susceptible bacteria of the normal flora are suppressed (Brooks et al., 2011; Meenakumari et al., 2011).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Studies conducted in the United States of America through data collected from the Centers for Disease Control for the period 1990-1996 (1996) indicate that this bacterium is the second common cause of pneumonia acquired from hospitals (Nosocomial Pneumonia) 17%, and the third common cause of systemic infections Urinary system 11%, the fourth common cause of injuries to medical surgical sites (Surgical wound site) 8%, the fifth common cause of various clinical injuries 9%, and the seventh common cause of bacteremia 3% (Delden and Iglewski, 1998; Ehrlich, 2003). Human nurses, where research indicates that in most diagnostic laboratories, your PC has been isolated. RIA repeat loud and promised one of the most important three clinical isolates with both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (Cowell, 2003; Abed and Sal- wan, 2017; Abed and Salim, 2019b).
Contaminated medical devices and the hospital environment have often been suggested as potential sources infection with P. aeruginosa and the high mortality associated with these infections is due to a combination of the bacterial resistance to antibiotics and a weak host defense system (Meenakumari et al., 2011; Orsi et al., 1995). Wound and burn infections is a major contributor to nosocomial infections. Furthermore, these infections prolong the burden of the disease by increasing cost of treatment, hospital stay and sometimes may lead to death particularly when complicated with septicemia and tetanus (Sule et al., 2002).
The current spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria pathogens such as P. aeruginosa has added a new side to the problem of wound and burn infections (Sule and Olusanya, 2000). These strains of P. aeruginosa establish themselves in the hospital environment in areas like, door handles, patients’ beds, sinks, table tops, toilets and others, thereby spreading from one patient to another: and it has a high rate for developing resistance to most of the antimicrobial agents (Haghi et al., 2010; Falagas et al., 2005).
Therefore, in Rivers State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to isolate the antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of pseudomonas species from patients.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the current spread of multi-drug resistant bacteria pathogens such as P. aeruginosa has added a new side to the problem of wound and burn infections (Sule and Olusanya, 2000). These strains of P. aeruginosa establish themselves in the hospital environment in areas like, door handles, patients’ beds, sinks, table tops, toilets and others, thereby spreading from one patient to another.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to isolate the Antimicrobial Sensitivity Patterns of Pseudomonas Species from Patients in Rivers State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To isolate and identify the sensitivity patterns of pseudomonas species in Patients wounds
- To detect the antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas isolated from burns and wounds of patients and hospital environmental samples from Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Rivers State.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to Lab Scientist, Doctors and other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the isolation and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of pseudomonas species from patients in Rivers State.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
