Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Clinical Samples in Specialist Hospital, Sokoto

Aim: The study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus isolates against some conventional antibiotics.

Study Design: Hospital based cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Specialist Hospital, Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State Nigeria, between June 2018 and September 2018.

Methodology: One hundred (100) Staphylococcus aureus isolates were used in this study. Gram’s staining, catalase, coagulase and mannitol fermentation tests were used to identify and confirm the isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out by disc agar diffusion test.

Results: In the present study 63.0% of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were from male subjects, while 37.0% were from female subjects. The age group with the highest number of isolates was 11-20 years (37%) and the least (9%) was seen in 41-50 years. Subjects with urine samples had the highest frequency of Staphylococcus aureus isolates with 32.0% and those with high vaginal swab had the lowest 6.0%. The antibiotics susceptibility testing showed that 40% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates were susceptible to Clindamycin, 64% to Ciprofloxacin, 57% to Erythromycin, 71% to Gentamicin, 34% to Cefoxitin, 46% to Quinupristin/Dalfopristin, 58% to Tetracycline and Sulphamethaxazole –Trimethoprim respectively. Screening for MRSA was carried out by antibiotic sensitivity testing using cefoxitin and a prevalence of 66% was obtained. This study showed that Gentamicin and Ciprofloxacin were the most active antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus.

Conclusion: There is the need for consistent on-going antimicrobial resistance surveillance for important and commonly isolated clinically significant pathogens of staphylococcal species to form the basis for developing and implementing measures that can reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance and prevent a probable impending public health problem.