Detection of Rifampicin Resistance Rate among Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) Isolates in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Rifampicin is used in the treatment of staphylococcal prosthesis-associated infections, in which bactericidal activity against surface-adhering, slow-growing and biofilm-producing microorganisms is essential.

Objectives: To determine the resistance rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates to Rifampicin and interpretation of susceptibility tests to guide therapy.

Methods: The study investigated the susceptibility pattern of 42 non-duplicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus isolates from different human clinical specimens to antibiotics in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. All the isolates were tested for rifampicin resistance using disc diffusion method with 30μg rifampicin disc on Mueller Hinton agar. In addition, biotyping characterization of the isolates was carried out.

Results: More than half of the total number of the MRSA 22 (52.4%) was recovered from blood culture. The prevalence of rifampicin resistance among MRSA isolates was 33.3%.The susceptibility patterns of MRSA against antibiotics tested showed a susceptibility of 92.9%, 69%, 69%, 69%, 64.3%, 64.3%, 50% and 38.1% to Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Cloxacillin, Tetracycline, Gentamycin, Cotrimoxazole, and Amoxyclav respectively.

Conclusion: Rifampicin monotherapy is associated with the development of resistance among MRSA isolates. For this reason, rifampicin should be used in combination with other antibiotics in the treatment of MRSA infections. The result of the antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that Ciprofloxacin is the first line drug for treatment of MRSA infections. Control of MRSA infection is essential, and it can be achieved by proper implementation of hospital control measures.