ABSTRACT

The use antibiotics in poultry poses a risk of dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacterial pathogen in the general public. The aim of this study was to assess the antibiotic resistance profile of E.coli isolated from poultry farms in Umuahia. A total of 50 samples made up of 25 cloacal and 25 fecal samples gotten from different poultry farms in Umuahia were taken to the laboratory for microbial analysis. The isolates were characterized based on colonial morphology and biochemical characterization and were subjected to different commercial antibiotic disk. A total of 18(36.0%) isolates were obtained from the 50 samples which were subjected to various antibiotic drugs using disc diffusion method. All the isolates 18(100%) showed 100% resistance to Augumentin, Cefuroxime, Impenem, Cefexime while others showed low levels of resistance. A total of sixteen (16) strains of E.coli isolates were multidrug resistance to three (3) antibiotic drugs namely Augumentin, Ceftriaxone and Cefotaxime.  From this study, it shows there is a need for continuous monitoring of antibiotics susceptibility pattern in order to influence antibiotics use among farm animals by farmers and protect presently effective antibiotics used against E.coli infections.