Journal of New Discovery in Microbiology

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most significant global public health challenges of the twenty-first century. The burden is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries, where antibiotics are frequently available without prescription and empirical treatment is common practice. In many healthcare settings, vaginal infections are often managed syndromically without microbiological confirmation. Such practices may contribute to the inappropriate selection of antibiotics and the subsequent emergence and spread of resistant bacteria. Consequently, the effectiveness of commonly used antimicrobial agents is increasingly threatened, complicating the management of routine gynaecological infections. This study aimed to characterise the spectrum of bacterial isolates recovered from high vaginal swabs and determine their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles in a tertiary healthcare facility in Southern Nigeria to inform evidence-based therapeutic decisions. A laboratory-based retrospective cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 100 non-duplicate bacterial isolates obtained from high vaginal swab specimens submitted for routine diagnostic evaluation were analysed. Bacterial identification was carried out using standard microbiological methods, including Gram staining, colony morphology, and conventional biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method on appropriate culture media. Inhibition zone diameters were measured and interpreted in accordance with the laboratory’s standard operating procedures. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and presented as frequencies and percentages. Five principal bacterial species were identified: Staphylococcus aureus (30%), Pseudomonas species (23%), Escherichia coli (20%), Klebsiella species (15%), and Proteus species (12%). Overall antimicrobial susceptibility was highest to ertapenem (99%) and ciprofloxacin (93%). In contrast, cefepime demonstrated the highest resistance rate (94%), with cephalosporin resistance elevated across several species. The findings highlight the need for routine culture and susceptibility testing, strengthened antimicrobial stewardship programmes, rational prescribing practices, and continuous surveillance to curb the escalation of antimicrobial resistance.