DAFFODIL INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1-2, JULY 2015 37 COMPARISON OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND SENSITIVITY WITH REFERENCE TO AGES OF ELDERS Razzaq Ahmad 1* , Ihsan Ullah 2 , Samia Zeb 1 , Laiba Rasheed 1 , Sana Mateen 3 , Muhammad Ayaz 4 1* Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Pakistan 2 Department of Pharmacy, University of Swabi, Pakistan 3 Department of Microbiology, University of Swabi, Pakistan 4 Department of Pharmacy, University of Malakand, Pakistan E-mail : tabassum322@gmail.com Abstract: Antibiotic resistance is one of the emerging and challenging areas in the communities worldwide. The present study was designed to investigate antibiotic sensitivity and resistance pattern against currently available antibiotics. Samples were collected from 28 patients and were subjected to culture sensitivity testing following CLSI standard protocols. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by Kirby Bauer’s disc diffusion method using standard antibiotic discs from different antibiotic groups including Macrolids, Sulphonamides, Quinolones and Fluoroquinolones, Carbapenem, Monobactums and Aminoglycosides. Isolated colonies were identified by different biochemical tests before culture sensitivity tests and were preserved in freeze-dried condition at 4°C in stab slant agar until later use.The common microorganisms isolated were Escherichia coli (75%), Morganella spp (10.71%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.14%), Klebsiella and Proteus (3.57%) respectively. Clinical isolates of Escherichia coli (64.28%) and Staphylococcus aureus were found highly resistant against Ciprofloxacin, whereas Morganella exhibited moderate resistance profile against it. The highly resistant antibiotics profile shows irrational prescription of broad spectrum antibiotics which ultimately results in emergence of resistance. Key words: Antibiotic resistance, Escherichia coli, Morganella, Ciprofloxacin, Nalidixic acid. 1. Introduction Microorganisms from clinical and non-clinical settings are becoming more and more resistant to conventional antibiotics. Clinical microbiologists now agree that multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacteria pose the greatest risk to public health. A major issue confronted by organized health care today is that of controlling the increase in antimicrobial resistance [1]. Although multiple factors play a role in this problem, the selective pressures induced by inappropriate and widespread use of antibiotics is considered important contributor. Several studies have reported higher rates of antimicrobial resistance among isolates from intensive care units (ICUs) than among isolates from general-patient-care areas [2]. These studies have provided important information about changes in the spectrum of microbial pathogens and trends in antimicrobial resistance patterns in nosocomial and community-acquired infections within time. The information generated by surveillance programs, associated with an increased awareness about evolving resistance patterns, has proved helpful for the development of empirical approaches for the treatment of serious infections [3]. Klebsiella species particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae are important opportunistic nosocomial pathogens causing a variety of infections including urinary tract infections, pneumonia, septicaemia, wound infections and infections in the intensive care units. It has been estimated that Klebsiella spp cause 5 - 7% of the total bacterial nosocomial infections [4]. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common cause of both community-acquired and nosocomial transmitted UTIs. National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance [5] data indicate that 26% of all hospital-associated UTIs are caused by E. coli in the USA. Antimicrobial resistance has been recognized as an emerging worldwide problem both in developed and developing countries [6]. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) exhibits three problematic features that, taken together, are not found among most other clinically relevant bacteria. This species is capable of expressing a variety of virulence factors and thus is almost always considered medically Date of submission : 20. 02.2015 Date of acceptance : 19. 03. 2015