Abstract

ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY PATTERN OF BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM SEMEN OF MEN WITH INFERTILITY PROBLEM

ABSTRACT

This research work was carried out to determine the types of bacteria associated with seminal fluid of men with infertility problems and their sensitivity to selected antibiotics. A total of 320 male partners of couples confirmed with infertility problems, aged between 25 and 55, were recruited from hospitals and health care centers, in Owerri, Nigeria. The semen samples, produced through masturbation on instruction, were brought to the laboratory in sterile bottles within 30min of ejaculation. The samples were immediately processed using standard macroscopic and microbiological techniques. Results of physical examination of the samples revealed that they were not viscous, showed acidic pH and were below the WHO recommended ejaculation volume of 2 - 6ml. Similarly, results of bacteriological examinations revealed the presence of six species of bacteria namely Neisseria gonorrheae, Proteus species, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species, as well as their distribution among the age groups studied. Antibiotic sensitivity tests showed that Staphylococcus species were highly sensitive to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and cefotaxime, while the other pathogens showed little or no sensitivity to the antibiotics tested. This study reveals semen characteristic and diversity of bacteria species associated with semen of men with infertility problems and the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the isolates.

Keywords: infertility, antibiotics, bacterial isolates, semen, men, ejaculation.