Background: The
staphylococci have increasingly been associated with infections worldwide and anti-microbial resistance has
made these versatile pathogens more recalcitrant in the hospital setting.
Objectives: This study sought to investigate the occurrence and distribution of
Staphylococcus
species as well as determine the
prevalence of methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) and methicillin resistant coagulase negative
staphylococci (MRCoNS)
among clinical samples from University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City.
Methods: Ninety one (91) clinical isolates comprising
S. aureus and Coagulase Negative
staphylococci (CoNS) were recovered from
routine clinical specimens and anti-microbial susceptibility tests were carried out. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was thereafter
carried out on these isolates to detect
mecA gene.
Results: Staphylococcus species had its highest prevalence from infected wounds of patients (28.8%) while urine samples showed
the least (5.4%). The highest level of resistance was to ceftazidime (
S. aureus - 68%, CoNS - 75.6%) while the least resistance
was observed for meropenem (
S. aureus- 26%, CoNS- 46.3%). Using phenotypic method (with 1µg oxacillin antibiotic disc), the
distribution of MRSA and MRCoNS was 44.0% and 46.3% respectively. PCR analysis showed that 38.0% of
S. aureus and 41.5%
of the CoNS had
mecA gene respectively; wound swabs showed the highest prevalence with 30.5% of
staphylococcal isolates being
mecA gene positive. There was also no significant association between the
Staphylococcal isolates and their isolation rate, isolation
site and
mecA gene distribution (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: This study draws attention on the increase in the prevalence of
mecA gene (39.6%) and an increase in multidrug
resistant
staphylococci when compared to previous studies in our country; it recommends laboratory guidance and periodic review
to stem the tide of resistance.
