Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern in Kano, Nigeria

Background: Nosocomial infection caused by methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) presents with management difficulties in infected patients due to their resistance to a number of other frontline antibiotics and constitutes significant epidemiological problems. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant S. aureus and antibiotic sensitivity pattern in clinical isolates in Kano. There is dearth of information on this subject in Kano. Method: One hundred and eighty five (185) S. aureus isolates from various clinical specimens obtained over a 12-month period in the Microbiology Department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) were subjected to methicillin susceptibility testing; while including susceptibility testing to other antibiotics by the disc diffusion methods. Result: Out of 185 S. aureus isolates tested; 53(28.6) were found to be methicillin resistant. While 38(62) isolates were obtained from in-patients; 15(28) were from out-patients. Surgical wound infection had the highest prevalence of 32(60) isolates. Antibiotics sensitivity results of methicillin susceptible staphylococcus aureus MSSA) and MRSA with the third generation cephalosporins and the quinilones were encouraging. All MRSA isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. Conclusion: A prevalence of 28.6MRSA in this environment calls for urgent intervention strategies due to its possible rapid spread and therapeutic problem

Effect of instructions about the method of urine collection and storage on the isolation rate of urinary bacteria in children

A study of 65 children (29males and 36females) and aged between four weeks and 15years with significant bacteriuria was undertaking over a six month period to determine the effects of instruction received about the methods of urine collection and storage on the prevalence of urinary tract infection. The commonest clinical presentation was fever (64.6). Only 22(35.4) of the patients had specific symptoms suggestive of urinary tract infections. The instructions about urine collection were given to 48(73.8) care givers. This instruction was given by the attending doctors (84). Despite the explanation; 15(23.1) of the patients collected the urine samples wrongly and 44(67.7) stored the samples for longer than one hour. Significant bacteriuria was more prevalent in 74.2of patients who submitted their urine samples more than one hour after collection. Communication skill is important and should be emphasized in the trainings of health workers in procedure on the patients