In vitro antimicrobial sensitivity testing of Nocardia Africana strains recently isolated from patients with pulmonary infections in Sudan

Abstract EN

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility of Nocardia africana to various antimicrobial agents.

Nocardia africana is a Gram-positive aerobic actinomycete and a notable pulmonary pathogen.

Methods: N.

africana strains were tested for their in vitro sensitivity against 34 different antimicrobial agents.

The antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method using Mueller-Hinton agar medium.

The zone of inhibition was read after 36-48 h of incubation at 37 degrees C.

Results: The results indicated that all N.

africana isolates were sensitive to ciprofloxacin (5μg/ml), clindamycin (10μg/ml), fusidic acid (10μg/ml), gentamycin (10μg/ml), imipenem (10μg/ml), tobramycin (10μg/ml), amikacin (20μg/ml), doxycycline (30 μg/ml), minocycline (30μg/ml), and vancomycine (30μg/ml).

They were resistant to compound sulfonamides (300μg/ml), sulphafurazole (100μg/ml), metronidazole (50μg/ml), aztereonam (30μg/ml), cefotetan (30μg/ml) nalidixic acid (30μg/ml) and penicillin G (10 units).

Conclusions: N.

africana revealed distinct susceptibility and resistance profiles to antimicrobial agents testes.

The study underline the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for clinical isolates of Nocardia spp.

Individual species show considerable differences in their susceptibility patterns which necessitate therapeutic adjustments and early prompt medical intervention.