Molecular Assessment of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Strains in Domestic Effluents of a University Community Akure, Nigeria

Abstract

Domestic effluents were collected from the kitchen, bathroom, laundry of students’ hostels and the effluents were bacteriologically analysed. The molecular identity and methicillin-resistant gene assay of selected multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains were conducted via 16S rRNA sequencing. Bathroom effluents obtained from Jadesola hostel had the highest staphylococcal count of 38.04±2.31 CFU/100 ml, while Adeniyi hostel had the least at 1.25±0.05 CFU/100 ml. All presumptive Staphylococcus species isolated from the domestic effluents produced a coagulase-positive outcome. The domestic effluents sourced 2 m away from the original source in FUTA hostels had the Staphylococcus aureus percentage occurrence of 15 % (45.76) whilst a low percentage occurrence was recorded in tap water obtained from the hostel locations at 1 % (8.48%). Staphylococcus aureus isolated in effluents from Abiola male hostel and FUTA staff quarters were resistant to oxacillin at 11.50±0.55 and 12.00±0.00 mm respectively. Staphylococcus aureus strain 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14 were positive with Mec A gene bands at approximately 300 base pairs. The Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from this study showed phenotypic resistance to oxacillin, a drug proxy of methicillin in Staphylococcal therapy. The unsystematic expulsion of untreated domestic effluents into water channels should be prohibited.