1453 © 2021 Annals of Medical and Health Sciences Research Original Article Research Article Abstract Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a rising global public health threat. Knowledge on the circulating pathogens in a particular area and their antibiotic resistance profle is essential to direct clinicians on the rational antibiotic prescribing. The study was conducted to determine the microbial isolates and antibiotic susceptibility profles of pathogens from a range of clinical samples in a tertiary hospital in Edo Central senatorial district in Edo state, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of microbiological isolates from clinical specimens collected between January 2016 and December 2019, using standard techniques from out-patient clinic attendees. Chi-square test was used to compare the association of type of bacterial isolates with patients’ sex, with the level of signifcance p set as <0.05. Prevalence rates of bacterial isolates and Resistance rates were calculated for each antibiotic used in microbiological culture. Results: Out of 3,247 clinical specimens processed, 994 (30.6%) showed microbial growth with 436 (43.9%) as gram-positive and 558 (56.1%) gram-negative bacterial isolates. Escherichia coli made up 286 (28.8%) of all isolates. Resistance to common antibiotics including cotrimoxazole, Tetracycline, Erythromycin and Cloxacillin were high for both microbial groups. Sensitivity to carbapenems, nitrofurantoin, and cephalosporins was high for gram-negative bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria exhibited high sensitivity to carbapenems and cephalosporins. Conclusion: High rates of resistance to common antibiotics were observed for gram-positive and gram-negative isolates. Hospital pharmacies and treatment guidelines should be made to refect the current patterns of resistance to available antibiotics. Keywords: Antibiotic; Bacterial isolates; Out-patients; Resistance Corresponding author: Ekaete AT, Lecturer, Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, Tel: +2348155368412; E-mail: Ekaete.tobin@gmail.com How to Cite this Article: Tobin Ekaete A, et al.Bacteriological Profile and Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns in Clinical Isolates from the Out-Patient Departments of a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria. Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2021;11:1453-1460. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Com- mons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms. Bacteriological Profle and Antbiotc Sensitvity Paterns in Clinical Isolates from the Out-Patent Departments of a Tertary Hospital in Nigeria Tobin Ekaete A 1 *, Olowo S 2 , Adewuyi G 2 , Nyoho Inyang 2 and Nmema EE 3 1 Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria; 2 Department of Microbiology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo state, Nigeria; 3 Department of Biological Sciences, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Edo State, Nigeria Introduction Bacterial infections continue to contribute signifcantly to the overall morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases in developing countries despite the availability of antibiotics. [1] The rising threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) described as a global public health challenge of the 21st century, increases the frailty of human existence by increasing vulnerability to bacterial infections that were hitherto treatable with available antibiotics. [2] Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are difcult to treat, limit therapeutic options, prolong hospitalization and require higher doses and probably drugs with higher tendencies for toxicity. [3] The slow progress with the development of new antibiotics to replace the frst-line drugs to which bacteria have become resistant further compounds the problem. In the past 50 years, only two new classes of antibacterial drugs have been developed and introduced into clinical practice. [4] Even when a promising drug or vaccine exists, the high cost of production and length of time between regulatory approval and deployment reduces its availability. [5,6] Several studies in developed and developing countries describe the rising patterns of bacterial resistance. In a study of uropathogens in Western Nigeria, 35.8% of urine samples yielded bacterial growth with the majority, 25.6% identifed as Escherichia coli. All were found to be resistant to at least 3 commonly used drugs. [7] In another study, Nmema et al. investigated the antibiotic susceptibilities and resistance mechanisms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical samples collected from patients in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Half of the isolates were multidrug-resistant, and 40% were resistant to imipenem and meropenem, a group of antibiotics considered as the last line for Gram-negative infections. [8] The increasing occurrence of resistant bacterial pathogens necessitates that patterns of infection and antibiogram profle of community-acquired bacterial infections are reviewed periodically, and the information used to guide the development of local treatment guidelines and hospital antibiotic policies that will guide the use of antibiotics. [9] This is also vital for empirical treatment of patients, a common practice where Medical Microbiology laboratory diagnostic capacity is limited. [10]