Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Bacterial Pathogens in Clinical Samples from Topfaith University Students, Mkpatak, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern, particularly in communities where antibiotics are frequently misused. As part of an ongoing AMR surveillance program across tertiary institutions in Nigeria, this study investigated the prevalence and resistance patterns of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in students at Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Nigeria. Methodology: A total of 100 urine samples were collected from apparently healthy volunteers and cultured on MacConkey agar, followed by incubation at 37 °C for 24–48 hours. Distinct colonies were subsequently subcultured onto nutrient agar and incubated for 24–48 h to obtain pure cultures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: Out of these, 49 samples (49%) showed significant bacterial growth. The identified isolates included Escherichia coli (19, 38.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (17, 34.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (8, 16.3%), and Proteus vulgaris (5, 10.2%). Demographic analysis revealed that 67.3% of the positive cases were in female students, with the highest prevalence observed among students aged 16–21 years, accounting for 65.3% of the infections. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed varying resistance levels among the isolates used in this study. The highest resistance was observed against ceftazidime (85.7%), a third-generation cephalosporin, whereas the lowest resistance was recorded for ofloxacin (6.1%), a fluoroquinolone. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in resistance rates among the four bacterial species (P > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for targeted antibiotic stewardship training, awareness campaigns, and stricter regulatory policies in academic institutions to mitigate the spread of AMR.