Co-agulase Negative Staphylococcus Distribution in Clinical Sample in a Tertiary Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Numerous researchers have described the isolation of coagulase-negative staphylococci especially S. epidermidis, and the association of the bacteria with clinical disease. In this study we determined the distribution of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from clinical samples in tertiary hospital. One hundred and fifteen repeat CoNS isolates were obtained from 607 various clinical specimens using standard precedures; 97 (84.3%) were strains of S. epidermidis while 18 (15.7%) were S. Saprophyticus. The highest number of isolates of CoNS were from Blood culture, 75 out of 115 strains (65.2%) and 68.0% were strains of S. epidermidis. Septicaemia had the highest prevalence of CoNS, 31.4%; followed by endocraditis, 25.0%. The least was found in otits and pyrexia of unkonwn origin, 7.4% and 8.3% respectively. All the CoNS strains were resistant to one or more of the eleven antimicrobial agents used. The frequancy of susceptibility to fluoroquinolones was the highest; ofloxacin
(81.7%), ciprofloxacin (77.4%). The least susceptibility was found in tetracycline; 20.0%. No isolate was sensitive to cotrimoxazole. However, S. epidermidis had a greater percentage of strains susceptible
to the quinolones; ofloxacin; 84.0% and ciprofloxacin; 80.0% than the S. saprohyticus, ofloxacin; 67.0% and ciprofloxacin; 44.0%. The distribution of CoNS in clinical specimens obtained from hospital enivronment in this study has shown that CoNS have become an important pathogen, therefore antimicrobial susceptibility tests should be carried out as a guide for therapy and to control development of resistant strains.