ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE AND BETA – LACTAMASE DETECTION IN MULTI – DRUG RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCI UROPATHOGENS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus organisms have emerged as one of the most prevalent human pathogens over the last few decades and has also been a leading cause of nosocomial and community – acquired infections. β-lactamases, the enzymes responsible for hydrolyzing the rings of β-lactam antibiotics, remain the greatest threat to the usage of these antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile are tests performed to determine which specific antibiotics, in this case β-lactam antibiotics the organism is sensitive to. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of β-lactamase producing Staphylococcus spp. isolates from urine specimens in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of  300 isolates were obtained from urine specimen. Identification of these isolates were performed by carrying out colonial morphology, gram staining and biochemical tests which include catalase and coagulase tests. The detection of β-lactamase enzymes were carried out using iodometric method. A high prevalence rate of 76.00% was recorded amongStaphylococcal isolatesfrom this study. A prevalence of 81.68% and 64.28%was recorded for Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci respectively. The association between the species of Staphylococci and the prevalence of beta-lactamase production was statistically significant (p=0.00884). The prevalence rate of beta-lactamase production among Staphylococcus aureus isolated from female participants 98(56. 97%)  were higher than that of the males 52.34% and that of coagulase negative staphylococci isolates was also higher in female participants 22.67% than the males 18.75%. Staphylococcus isolates were more susceptible to Nitrofurantoin while CoNS were more susceptible to Nitrofurantoin and Ofloxacin. Active microbial surveillance of pathogenic Staphylococci is advocated.