Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of community acquired and nosocomial isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and that of coagulase negative staphylococci from clinical blood culture specimens at a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital

The study was carried out to ascertain the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus and that of Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CONS) recovered from blood culture specimens in Calabar, Nigeria. The study was retrospective in nature and was carried out at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) Calabar; data generated from blood culture specimens over a five year period (February 2004 - February 2009) was compiled, relevant information such as age, sex, organism recovered and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were obtained from patients records. Samples were collected, transported, stored and processed using standard laboratory procedures. Data obtained was analyzed using Epi Info 6 statistical software. S. aureus (23%, n = 46) and coagulase negative Staphylococci (CONS) (14%, n = 29) combined were the commonest bacterial isolates. Only ceftriaxone was active against all (100%) the community acquired (CA) and nosocomial (NC) Staphylococcal isolates, while the resistance of the NC compared to the CA isolates of the organisms was significantly higher against several of the antibiotics (p < 0.05). The NC Staphylococcal isolates were generally resistant to at least seven antibiotics tested. Local sensitivity patterns of Staphylococci should be generally known while managing their associated blood infections. Also adequate measures should be put in place so as to limit the spread of their hospital acquired strains.   Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci, sensitivity, blood culture.