Antibiotics susceptibility patterns of bacteria isolated from American and German cockroaches as potential vectors of microbial pathogens in hospitals

ObjectiveTo identify the cockroach species, their bacterial flora and antibiotics susceptibility patterns of these bacteria in Shiraz.MethodsIn the present descriptive study, only two species of cockroaches were recognized. The washing solutions from the digestion systems and surfaces of 156 American and German cockroaches were cultured. The latter was found to be the commonest (89.7%) in all places.ResultsOverall, 18 species of bacteria were isolated and identified by standard culture methods. The most frequent bacterium isolated from both species of cockroaches in all places was Pseudomonas (41.7%). The second and third commonest bacteria were Enterobacter (39.7%) and Klebsiella (32.7%), respectively.ConclusionsThe antibiogram profiles showed full (100%) resistance of Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter and Proteus to amoxicillin and ampicillin at both hospitals, while Pseudomonas showed resistance (95.7%) to cephalothin. Thus it is concluded that German and American cockroaches carry multidrug resistant bacteria in two hospitals which raises alarm for stricter control measures.