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Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by primary school pupils in a University Staff School, Zaria, Nigeria
Abstract
Strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from the anterior nares of healthy pupils and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined. 116 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (100%) were biochemically characterized as coagulase positive S. aureus. Susceptibility profile of the isolates revealed that 15(14.85%) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 84(83.16%) methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) were recovered. Lower percentages of resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus to mupirocin (11.88%) and ciprofloxacin (0.99%) were observed. Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) (2.97%) with MIC values between 8-16 µg/ml were recorded. The public health significance of community-acquired methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA) in healthy human subjects is highlighted.
International Journal of Biological & Chemical Sciences Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 71-75