Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Obtained From Nares of Patients and Staff of Sokoto State-Owned Hospitals in Nigeria

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) obtained from the nasal cavity of participants and investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates from Sokoto state, Nigeria. Methods: Nasal swabs of both nares were obtained from 378 participants across three study centers within the six-months study period. The Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered were characterized, and their resistance phenotype determined in conjunction with MRSA prevalence. Results: Phenotypic screening of isolates obtained in this study revealed a total of 131 (17.3%) coagulase-positive Staphylococci out of 756 samples. Of this number, there were 81 (61.8%) S. aureus, 36 (27.5%) Staphylococcus intermedius, 6 (4.5%) Staphylococcus hyicus, and 8 (6.1%) Staphylococcus schleiferi. Conclusion: This study found a prevalence of 61.8% and 46.9% of S. aureus and MRSA among the studied hospitals in Sokoto state, thus demonstrating that the nares of the hospital populace are not free from S. aureus and MRSA colonization.