Antibiotics Susceptibility Patterns and Plasmid Profile of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients with Wound Infections Attending Four Hospitals in Akure, Ondo State

Aims: Several studies have documented Staphylococcus aureus as a leading pathogen implicated in wound infections with a remarkable potential for antibiotics resistance. This study determined the susceptibility patterns of S. aureus isolated from wound infections to conventional antibiotics and assessed the plasmid profile of selected multidrug resistant isolates.

Study Design: This study was designed to determine the antibiotics susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from wound infections.

Place and Duration of Study: This research was carried out in the Department of Microbiology Federal University of Technology Akure, between November 2015 and April 2016.

Methodology: Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from wound swab samples of a total of 248 patients (116 males and 132 females within the age range of 5 - 63 years) using standard bacteriological procedures. Susceptibility profile of the isolates to commercially available antibiotics was determined using disc diffusion method. Plasmid profiling and curing were carried out for selected multidrug resistant isolates.

Results: This study revealed that males had a lower percentage occurrence (44.04%) of S. aureus in wounds, while females had a higher percentage occurrence (55.96%). Many of the isolates displayed multi-drug resistance to many of the conventional antibiotics used. Compared to other conventional antibiotics employed in this study, the isolates displayed the lowest percentage resistance to Vancomycin 3 (2.75%); and highest percentage resistance to Erythromycin 56 (51.38%). Multiple plasmids were discovered in the selected multidrug resistant isolates.

Conclusion: Compared to other antibiotics used in this study, Ofloxacin and Vancomycin showed better efficacy against the tested isolates. However, there is need for development of alternative drugs to increase the treatment options for multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus.