Ugwu MC, Anie CO, Ibezim EC and Esimone CO
The antibacterial susceptibility of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the nostrils of students of College of Education Agbor, Nigeria was investigated. Three hundred (300) specimens was collected from 150 male and 150 female students and cultured on appropriate bacteriological media. The bacterial isolates (S. aureus) were identified by standard biochemical tests. The MRSA was determined using Oxacillin antibiotic disk. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was performed according to Clinical Laboratory Standard testing Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Of the 300 nasal swab samples collected and screened, a total 218 (72.7%) of the isolates were found to be S. aureus based on morphology and biochemical tests. The incidence rate from female to male individuals were 103 (68.6%) and 115 (76.6%) respectively. The prevalence rate/ colonization of MRSA among healthy individuals in the community of the S. aureus isolated was 56 (18.7%). The antibiotic resistant pattern of the MRSA isolates was: Amoxicillin 30 (54%) > Streptomycin 25 (45%) >Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 14 (25%), >Erythromycin 13 (23%) >Chloramphenicol 12 (21%),> Co-trimoxazole 10 (18%),>Ofloxacin 8 (13%),> Ciprofloxacin 9 (16%) > Gentamicin 5 (9%). The MRSA isolates showed multiple drug resistance to the beta-lactam and other commonly used antibiotics.
