Asbtract
Background:The nasal cavity hosts a wide array of organisms. Pathogenic organisms may find access into the sinuses leading to infection. Plasmids, which are small extracellular DNA molecules, play a role by transferring resistance encoded genes among bacteria, facilitating the spread of antibiotic resistance. By investigating the role of plasmid genes in potential treatment failures, the research seeks to broaden our understanding on how plasmids mediate antibiotic resistance. This knowledge is key for developing effective strategies to combat sinusitis diseases using antimicrobial agents.
Methods: The study evaluated forty-three patients from the Ear Nose and Throat Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin city. Patient’s data collected were age, gender, alcohol history, smoking history, medical history. Isolates obtained were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing and plasmid curing with acridine orange as the curing agent using standard agar disc diffusion method.
Results: A total of 58.1% of our study participants were female, and 41.9% were male. Participants aged 16-25 had the highest sinusitis occurrence (27.9%). Nasal discharge was the most encountered symptom across all participants. Staphylococcus aureus dominated in the nasal cavity of study participants (35.1% aerobic) compared to other organisms isolated. Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounted for the highest abundance (31.3%) under anaerobic condition. Multi-drug resistance was observed in 23.4% and 25% of total aerobic and anaerobic isolates respectively. Resistance to fluoroquinolones was lost post curing in Staphylococcus spp, Klebsiella spp.
Conclusion: Females were more susceptible to sinusitis with recurrent episodes experienced compared to males. The presence of plasmid-mediated multidrug resistance genes underscores the need for antibiograms, and rational antibiotics use in sinusitis treatment.
Keywords: Nasal cavity, Demographics, bacteria, resistance, plasmid.
