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Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by primary school pupils in a University Staff School, Zaria, Nigeria


O S Olonitola
H I INabo
B O Olayinka
I D Bugo

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

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eISSN: 1997-342X
print ISSN: 1991-8631