Bacteriological load and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial isolates from aquatic resources harvested from Okwan Obolo estuary, Akwa Ibom State

This study was conducted to determine bacteriological load and antibiotic susceptibility profile of isolates from aquatic resources harvested Okwan Obolo estuary, Akwa Ibom state, using standard microbiological techniques. The used were the fresh land crab (Gecarinus quadratus), Pallid Ghost (Ocypode pallidulla) fishes (Sadinella maderensis) samples. bacterial each sample determined serial dilution pour plating Antibiotic sensitivity test Kirby-Bauer Agar-disc diffusion method. results indicated highest mean total heterotrophic counts(THBC), Vibrio count (TVC), coliform (TCC) fecal count(TFCC) ranges 1.15 x105 CFU/g, 4.9x105 CFU/g 6.9 5.25 for Gecarinus quadratus 1, 1.16 4.4 6.5 5.75 Ocypode pallidulla 1. Mean different anatomical sites Sadinella maderensis ranged 4.1 x 105 1.6 3.3 2.6x maderensis1, 2.8x 2.0 maderensis2 respectively. recovered parahaemolyticus, vulnificus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Micrococcus Coagulase- negative (CON Staphylococcus), Bacillus Enterobacter Pseudomonas spp Proteus species. However, guts samples had number loads isolates. aureus percentage occurrence (14.1%), closely followed by coli (12.5%) All recorded 100% amoxicillin-clavulanic antibiotics. CON all drugs tested while imipenem, gentamicin, ceftriazole amoxicillin-clauvalanic antibiotics Proper cooking is encouraged, good water quality should be maintained in estuary.