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Prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcusaureus among primary, secondary school students and traders in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State

1Oviasogie F.E., 2Obiazi H.A.K., 3Eyike E.E., 4Ogofure, A.G. and 5Ebiala, F.I.

1,4Department of microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Benin Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State Nigeria. 2,3 Department of Medical laboratory Science, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria.

Corresponding Author: abraham.ogofure@uniben.edu

Recieved Date: 2017; Accepted Date: 2017; Published Date: 2017

ABSTRACT

The incidence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA) among primary and secondary school children and traders in Ekpoma, Edo State was evaluated in this study. One hundred and sixty nasal samples from apparently healthy subjects were screened for MRSA using standard microbiological methods. Results revealed that 60 samples (37.5%) were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, 68 (42.5%) as coagulase negative Staphylococci and 32 samples (20.0%) showed no growth. The distribution of MRSA between males and females were 41.7% and 58.3% respectively. The nasal carriage rate of MRSA and methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was high (41.7%) in the age range of 11 – 15 years and low (4.2%) in the age group greater than 40 years. Antibiotics susceptibility pattern of MRSA isolates revealed that gentamicin was 100% sensitive. The strain was also sensitive to erythromycin, streptomycin and pefloacin at 83.3%, 75.0% and 91.7% respectively. The result of this study further stresses the need for good personal hygiene if the infection by MRSA is to be reduced in the community.

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