AMB Volume 42, Issue 2, 2026 Pages 264-281 https://doi.org/10.59393/amb26420211
Prevalence of Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) in ESKAPE Pathogens from Different Sources in Lagos, Nigeria
Akinyemi K.O., Adesanya T.A., Ajoseh S.O., Salami W.O., Lawal-Sanni A.O.
ESKAPE pathogens are six multidrug-resistant bacteria that pose serious public health risks and are difficult to treat. This study evaluated the prevalence of ESKAPE pathogens and antimicrobial resistance profiles. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lagos, collecting 500 samples from clinical (n = 350), environmental (n = 100), and animal (n = 50) sources between December 2023 and February 2024. The samples were analyzed, and standard methods were used for antibiotic susceptibility testing. RT-PCR was used to detect resistance (blaSHV, blaTEM, blaKPC, blaOXA-48, blaIMP) and virulence gene (ompA, toxA, magA, gelE) markers. A prevalence of 7.6% (38/500) ESKAPE pathogens was recorded, with source rates of 5.4% clinical, 10% animal, and 14% environmental samples. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 100% resistant to cefepime and cefoxitin and 92.3% to vancomycin. Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited 100% resistance to cefepime, and Enterococcus faecium was 100% resistance to vancomycin. Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter spp. were resistant to multiple antibiotics. ESKAPE pathogens showed 28 antibiotic resistance patterns, with P. aeruginosa predominantly exhibiting CIP-VA-AUG-CAZ-CPM-MEM-FOX pattern. Four isolates from clinical samples, two each from Acinetobacter baumannii and P. aeruginosa) produced AmpC. ESKAPE pathogens were multidrug-resistant, with over 70% showing a Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index greater than 0.5. Acinetobacter baumannii strain harboured extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemase genes, while an environmental K. pneumoniae strain had the blaOXA-48 gene and the virulence genes ompA, magA, and toxA. The study underscores the urgent need for improved surveillance and targeted strategies to combat these resistant ESKAPE pathogens and their gene expression across different sources.
Keywords: ESKAPE, pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes
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