Abstract
The objective of this study was to isolate and phenotypically characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Nigeria. A total of 709 clinical (303) and community samples (406) samples were obtained for this study. MRSA isolates were detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with the inclusion of 1 µg oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotic disc. The isolates were screened for the β-lactamase production using nitrocefin sticks. A total of 44 MRSA isolates were obtained from the samples with prevalence frequency of 22.6 % and 20.8 % from clinical and community samples respectively. The clinical isolates were completely resistant (100 %) to ceftazidime, tetracycline and penicillin. Gentamicin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the clinical and community isolates respectively with a susceptibility frequency of 63.2 % and 80 %. Exactly 38.1 % and 24.2 % of the clinical and community S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production respectively. The HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA isolates had MARI values within the range of 0.3 to 1.0. This present findings of multi-drug resistance MRSA is very worrisome as it further highlights the pressing need to keep a strict watch on MRSA emerging from this study area.
Highlights
Antibiotic resistance has become a growing concern in the public health sector
Staphylococcus aureus has long been recognized as the cause of a variety of infectious diseases ranging from mild conditions like soft tissue infections, to severe life threatening debilitation such as endocarditis[13]
Thirty-two (32) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates out of the 84 clinical samples of S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production while
Summary
Antibiotic resistance has become a growing concern in the public health sector. This is because resistance often results in treatment failure, which can have serious consequences especially in critically ill patients[1]. Most Staphylococcal infections are associated with serious community-acquired and nosocomial diseases which arise often in individuals with predisposing risk factors such as haemodialysis or surgery. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance makes the effective management and treatment of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus difficult. This study, is designed to evaluate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
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