Abstract

Currently, many medical microbiology laboratories in Nigeria do not identify bacteria to the genotypic level, resulting in cases of missed diagnosis and incorrect identification of uncommon pathogenic microorganisms. This, in turn, affects the choice of treatment for infections caused by these bacteria. This study aimed to characterize rare uropathogens using phenotypic techniques and identify them using molecular methods. The isolation and characterization of uropathogens were done using standard microbiological methods, and their identities were confirmed by DNA sequencing using the Sanger DideoxyNT method. The antibiotic resistance profile of the test bacteria was determined against selected antibiotic discs using the disk diffusion method, following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Out of 375 bacterial strains cultured from 350 urine specimens, only three (0.8%) uncommon uropathogens were identified: one strain of Alcaligenes faecalis and two strains of Staphylococcus cohnii, with GenBank accession numbers KC295047.1, NR_037046.1, and JX 501706.1, respectively. These uropathogens were found to be multidrug-resistant. It is recommended that after cultivation and isolation of causative agents of urinary tract infections (UTIs), the isolated organisms should be subjected to molecular analysis for accurate identification. This will help choose the right drugs for treating infections caused by such bacteria and prevent their spread in the environment.

Key words:  Alcaligenes  faecalis,  Staphylococcus cohnii,  drug  resistance, Enugu State.