PREVALENCE OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) has become a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. The rise of multi-drug resistant MRSA strains has made treating Staphylococcal infections increasingly difficult. The study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of nasal carriage of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from students in the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. A total of 350 nasal swabs were obtained from students residing in different hostels across the university. Identification of these isolates were done using colonial morphology, Gram staining reaction, catalase and coagulase tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using a modified Kirby-Bauer method. Cefoxitin (30ug) disc was used to detect Methicillin resistance of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates. A total number of 309 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were obtained with a prevalence of 309(88.25%), and was higher in males compared to females, though the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.8760). The prevalence of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates was 116(38.54%). This was found to be higher in Hall-3 25(21.55%) and lower in Hall-6 10(8.62%). There was a statistically significant association between the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the different hostels (P=0.0005). MRSA showed more sensitivity to Erythromycin and less to Imipenem antibiotics. Active surveillance and environmental cleaning are essential in reduction of pathogenic Staphylococci and prevent MRSA and other microbial transmission.