Phenotypic Characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients in Healthcare Institutions in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a cosmopolitan and pathogenic microorganism associated with various diseases spectra and antimicrobial resistance of public health importance. AIM: This study determined the phenotypic characteristics of S. aureus isolated from patients in healthcare institutions in Zaria metropolis. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out in 5 healthcare institutions. Four hundred and twenty clinical samples were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Majority of the patients (54.3%) were within the age range 21-40 years and mean age of 26.04 ± 12 years. Approximately, 70% of the respondents had history of antibiotic use prior to consultation in the hospitals and were self-prescribed, and 91.2% were outpatients. The most commonly abused antibiotics were ampicillin-cloxacillin (19.5%) and cotrimoxazole (10.0%), and the mean duration of their use was 3.5 ± 1.3 days. The detection rate for S. aureus was 10% and 5.2% for MRSA. The S. aureus isolates showed the highest frequency of resistance against ampicillin 42 (100%), followed by penicillin G 39 (92.9%) and least was to gentamicin 5 (11.9%). The frequency of resistance for the MRSA were ampicillin 22 (100%), penicillin G 21(95.5%) and least was to gentamicin 2 (9.1%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of oxacillin were greater than 128 µg /ml. CONCLUSION: The detection rate of S. aureus and MRSA strains are of great public health concern which requires continuous health education on rational use of antibiotics among others.

CONTEXTE: Staphylococcus aureus est un micro-organisme cosmopolite et pathogène associé à divers spectres de maladies et à une résistance aux antimicrobiens d'importance pour la santé publique. OBJECTIF: Cette étude a permis de déterminer les caractéristiques phénotypiques de S. aureus isolé chez des patients dans des établissements de santé de la métropole de Zaria. PLAN DE L'ÉTUDE: Une étude transversale en milieu hospitalier a été menée dans 5 établissements de santé. Quatre cent vingt échantillons cliniques ont été recueillis et analysés. RÉSULTATS: La majorité des patients (54,3 %) étaient âgés de 21 à 40 ans et l'âge moyen était de 26,04 ± 12 ans. Environ 70 % des répondants avaient des antécédents d'utilisation d'antibiotiques avant la consultation dans les hôpitaux et étaient auto-prescrits, et 91,2 % étaient des patients externes. Les antibiotiques les plus fréquemment utilisés étaient l'ampicillinecloxacilline (19,5 %) et le cotrimoxazole (10,0 %), et la durée moyenne de leur utilisation était de 3,5 ± 1,3 jours. Le taux de détection de S. aureus était de 10 % et de 5,2 % pour le SARM. Les isolats de S. aureus ont montré la plus grande fréquence de résistance à l'ampicilline 42 (100%), suivie de la pénicilline G 39 (92,9%) et la plus faible à la gentamicine 5 (11,9%). La fréquence de résistance pour le SARM était de 22 (100%) pour l'ampicilline, 21 (95,5%) pour la pénicilline G et 2 (9,1%) pour la gentamicine. Les concentrations minimales inhibitrices de l'oxacilline étaient supérieures à 128 µg /ml. CONCLUSION: Le taux de détection des souches de S. aureus et de SARM est un grand problème de santé publique qui nécessite une éducation sanitaire continue sur l'utilisation rationnelle des antibiotiques entre autres. Mots clés: S. aureus, MRSA, phénotype, résistance aux antimicrobiens, patients d'hôpitaux, Nigeria.

Phenotypic Characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients in Healthcare Institutions in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a cosmopolitan and pathogenic microorganism associated with various diseases spectra and antimicrobial resistance of public health importance.Aim: This study determined the phenotypic characteristics of S. aureus isolated from patients in healthcare institutions in Zaria metropolis.STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out in 5 healthcare institutions. Four hundred and twenty clinical samples were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Majority of the patients (54.3%) were within the age range 21­40 years and mean age of 26.04 ± 12 years. Approximately, 70% of the respondents had history of antibiotic use prior to consultation in the hospitals and wereselfprescribed, and 91.2% were outpatients. The most commonly abused antibiotics were ampicillin-cloxacillin (19.5%) and cotrimoxazole (10.0%), and the mean duration of their use was 3.5 ± 1.3 days. The detection rate for S. aureus was 10% and 5.2% for MRSA. The S. aureus isolates showed the highest frequency of resistance against ampicillin 42 (100%), followed by penicillin G 39 (92.9%) and least was to gentamicin 5 (11.9%). The frequency of resistance for the MRSA were ampicillin 22 (100%), penicillin G 21(95.5%) and least was to gentamicin 2 (9.1%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of oxacillin were greater than 128 µg /ml. CONCLUSION: The detection rate of S. aureus and MRSA strains are of great public health concern which requires continuous health education on rational use of antibiotics among others

Seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies amongst children in Zaria, Northern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Poliomyelitis is endemic in Northern Nigeria where there is continuous transmission of wild poliovirus 1 and 3 (WPV1 and 3) and circulating vaccine derived poliovirus 2 (cVDPV2) resulting in a high number of cases of children with acute flaccid paralysis. The seroprevalence of antibodies to polio serotypes which can be used to assess the immune status of children and the effectiveness of the vaccine against poliomyelitis is unknown, despite its endemicity in this part of the world. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies in children aged 1-10 years in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. METHODS: A descriptive, cross sectional, community based study was undertaken in Zaria, North Western Nigeria between 2008 and 2009. Two hundred and sixty-four (264) children aged 1-10 years were enrolled from two local government in Zaria by multistage random sampling method. Demographic data and polio immunisation history were retrieved from parents and caregivers by an interviewer administered questionnaire. Neutralising antibody titres to polioserotypes 1, 2 and 3 were assayed according to the WHO Manual for the virological investigation of polio. Antibody titres ≥ 1:8 were considered positive. RESULTS: The mean age of the 264 children studied was 6.25 years. Fifty-five percent of the children were protected against the three polioserotypes, while 86.4%, 76.1% and 77.3% of children had neutralising antibodies to P1, P2 and P3 polioserotypes respectively. 5 (1.9%) of the children had no antibodies to all the three polioserotypes. Polio antibody seropositivity was significantly associated with higher socioeconomic status and immunisation was the single most important determinant of seropositivity to poliovirus serotypes. CONCLUSION: Seroprevalence to poliovirus serotypes, though higher than values found in previous studies done in Nigeria, was lower compared to findings in the developed world. The use of more immunogenic vaccines and the balanced use of OPV formulations in SIAs, with further improvements in programme quality could provide the necessary immune booster to make polio eradication in Nigeria a reality.