Oluchi J Osuala¹ , Marvellous O Asaju¹, Victor O Etikudike², Anastecia I Ezeamalu³, Chukwuemeka C Chukwuma⁴, Stephen N Ezekwueche⁵, Eucharia Ekwegbalu², Terhemen Kasso⁶, Charles O Nnadi⁷, Angus N Oli⁸, Malachy C Ugwu^8-9

¹Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Madonna University, Elele 511101, Rivers State; ²Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli 431124, Anambra State; ³Department of Medical Laboratory Science; ⁴Department of Biochemistry, Madonna University, Elele 511101, Rivers State; ⁵Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo 464115, Imo State; ⁶Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt 500004, Rivers State; ⁷Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State; ⁸Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology; ⁹TETFUND, centre of excellence for Biolmedical, Engineering and Agricultural Translational Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka 420001, Anambra State, Nigeria.

For correspondence:-  Oluchi Osuala   Email: osualaoluchioo@gmail.com   Tel:+2348065844112

Received: 22 January 2026        Accepted: 19 March 2026        Published: 30 March 2026

Citation: Osuala OJ, Asaju MO, Etikudike VO, Ezeamalu AI, Chukwuma CC, Ezekwueche SN, et al. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter species among pregnant women in Rivers State, Nigeria. Trop J Pharm Res 2026; 25(3):355-364 doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v25i3.8

© 2026 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence, antibiotic resistance profiles, and carbapenemase production among Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter spp. isolated from pregnant women attending selected tertiary hospitals in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from April to December, 2024, in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), and Madonna University Teaching Hospital (MUTH). A total of 423 midstream urine samples were collected from consenting pregnant women. The isolates obtained from the urine samples were identified using standard morphological and biochemical procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using modified Kirby-Bauer method and interpreted using CLSI standards, while the carbapenemase production was confirmed phenotypically using the Modified Hodge Test (MHT), Triton Hodge Test (THT), and Modified Carbapenem Inactivation Method (mCIM). Results: The 423 samples yielded 170 isolates, including 165 Enterobacteriaceae and 5 Acinetobacter spp. High level of resistance was observed against β-lactam antibiotics, while fluoroquinolones showed moderate activity. The majority showed imipenem resistance and were phenotypically confirmed as Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase or metallo-β-lactamase producers. No significant association (p > 0.05) was observed between isolate distribution and demographic factors. Conclusion: The detection of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter spp. among pregnant women in Rivers State emphasises the need for antimicrobial stewardship and molecular surveillance programmes.

Keywords: Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter spp., Antibiotic resistance, Carbapenemase, Pregnant women, Metallo-?-lactamase, Klebsiella pneumoniae

Impact Factor
Thompson Reuters (ISI): 0.6 (2023)
H-5 index (Google Scholar): 49 (2023)