Nasal carriage of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus amongst meat sellers in Abakaliki Metropolis, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Nworie A., Azi S. O., Ibiam G. A., Egwu I. H., Odoh I., Okereke E. C., Oti-Wilberforce R. O., Eze U. A. and Obi I. A.

Microbiology Research International
Published: December 28 2013
Volume 1, Issue 3
Pages 48-53

Abstract

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a global threat to human race due to its multidrug resistance propensity and avalanche of diseases associated with it. Though nasal carriage of MRSA has been reported amongst meat sellers and animal handlers elsewhere, carriage of this organism amongst this population in Ebonyi State has not been documented. In this study, eighty seven nasal swab samples were randomly collected from meat sellers in Abakaliki ‘meat market’ following informed consent. The samples were subjected to standard microbiological techniques to identify S. aureus. Resistance to methicillin was obtained using cefoxitin. A total of 20 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were recovered, representing an overall nasal carriage of 23% (20/87) while MRSA carriage of 15% (3/20). The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates to commonly used drugs show high resistance to tetracycline (80%), cotrimoxazole (70%) and erythromycin (65%). All isolates were susceptible to imipenem and vancomycin. The presence of MRSA in the nostrils of meat sellers screened in this study portends potential danger to this group, their families and the general public due to the versatility and intransigence of this organism in human infections. It is therefore recommended that more studies involving larger population be carried out to establish the prevalence of this organism in the wider Ebonyi society in order to enable healthcare providers to design preventive measures.

Keywords: Nasal carriage, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotics, susceptibility, cefoxitin, vancomycin.

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