Molecular Characterisation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Pseudomonas Species Isolated from Infected Wounds of Patients in Insurgency-Stricken Maiduguri, Borno State

Multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been known to cause infections among hospitalised patients leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Carbapenems are usually deployed for treating these infections. This work focused on molecular characterisation and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of wound infections due to Pseudomonas species from four major hospitals within Maiduguri, Nigeria. Four hundred and twenty non-duplicate wound specimens were collected from surgical units of four hospitals within Maiduguri metropolis between February 2020 and October 2020. The samples were analysed for Pseudomonas species and molecularly identified using standard methods. Pseudomonas species constituted 72 (17.1%) of the isolates, with P. aeruginosa being responsible for 68 (94.4%); the remaining were P. putida 2(2.8%) and P. fluorescens 2(2.8%). The highest prevalence of 36.8% was in the 21-40-year age group, with 66% being males. (P