ISOLATION AND ANTIBIOGRAM OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) AMONG APPARENTLY HEALTHY STUDENTS OF A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN BENIN CITY, EDO STATE.

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of public health concern leading to potentially fatal diseases. The aim of this research was to isolate methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from urine samples of apparently healthy students of University of Benin, Benin-City, Edo State. A total of One hundred and fifty (150) urine samples were collected and screened using cultural and biochemical methods and multiple antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique. Organisms isolated from the urine samples were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis and Klebsiella spp. Females recorded the highest of Staphylococcus aureus (42.5%) than their male counterpart (22.8%), while total of 11.6% were tested as MRSA. It was observed that the MRSA isolates were resistant to Gentamicin (54.5%), Ceftriaxone (72.7%), Erythromycin (81.8%), Oxacillin (100%) and had multiple antibiotic resistant index of >2. Hence the need for antibiotic control and public health measures should be put in place towards the usage of antibiotics in other to curtail the menace of MRSA.