<b>Relationship between some selected Socio Demographic Profiles and Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus Aureus</i> among Apparently Healthy Residents in Ekpoma, Nigeria</b>

Abstract

This study assesses the relationship between some selected demographic profiles and methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) amongst 384 apparently healthy residents in Ekpoma, Edo, Nigeria. Following
standard protocol, nasal swab samples were subjected to bacteriological investigation and Staphylococcus aureus
isolates were identified by mannitol fermentation and coagulase positivity. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was
performed via Kirby-Bauer’s disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar medium. Results showed that
Staphylococcus aureus was present in 136 (35.4%) samples (male: 33.8% and female: 37.0%) among which 27.9%
were methicillin-resistant (male; 27.3%; and female; 28.6%). The distribution of nasal colonisation of
Staphylococcus aureus was significantly higher (P< 0.05) among those within the age group of 41–50 years
(66.7%) and civil servants (52.9%). Also, MRSA was common among age group 31 – 50 years (50%) and amongst
civil servants (33.3%). The MRSA isolated were resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, cloxacillin (92.1%), tetracycline
(68.4%), chloramphenicol (18.4%), streptomycin (18.4%), erythromycin (18.4%) and gentamicin (0%). Judging by
the results, MRSA is prevalent in the study area and the use of gentamicin may be recommended as the drug of
choice for the treatment of multi-drug resistant MRSA.

Keywords: Demographic profile, Antibiotic resistant, Staphylococcus aureus, Ekpoma.