This study was carried out to determine the frequency of isolation of Salmonella spp. and E. coli 0157 in the faeces of rats obtained from three local government areas in Abia State Nigeria, as well as to evaluate their antimicrobial resistance. A total of 180 rates were trapped and standard methods were used to isolate Salmonella and E. coli 0157. The E. coli was characterized by use of blood agar to determine haemolytic and mucoid colonies and using E. coli 0157 antiserum to determine 0157 strain and use of sorbitol MacConkey agar to determine non sorbitol fermentation. Ten antimicrobial agents were used to determine resistance via disc diffusion method. Out of a total of 180 trapped rats, 16 (8.0%) were positive for Salmonella while 158 E. coli isolates tested positive. 0 (0.0%), 22 (14.5%) and 16 (10.1%) were haemolytic, mucoid and non-sorbitol fermenters respectively. All the isolates proved negative for 0157 strain. The frequency of resistance to the 10 antimicrobial agents tested was 30.1% (48) for E. coli and 75.7% (13) for Salmonella spp.