Antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from the Nostrils of Tertiary Institution Students

Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal organism that resides on skin and mucosa. Mild to life-threatening sepsis can occur if the organism enters the body, especially in an immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individual. This study aims to assess the microbiological analysis and the antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the nose of healthy individuals among the students of Kwara State University, Malete, from both males and females of different ages.
Methodology: Nasal samples were collected from students at Kwara State University, Malete, using a sterile cotton swab pre-moistened with sterile saline and cultured on previously prepared mannitol-salt agar and cultured aerobically at 35-37°C for 18-24 hours for isolation, incubation, and identification of Staphylococcus aureus using standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method with a commonly prescribed antibiotic.
Results: A total number of 320 students were screened, and the results showed people who carried Staph aureus in their nostrils were 86 (28.9%), 34 males and 52 females. The antibiotic susceptibility profile of S. aureus isolates showed that 54.6%, 55.8%, 32.6%, and 72.0% were susceptible to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, and gentamicin, while 88.4% and 94.2% were resistant to cefuroxime and ceftazidime.
Conclusion: It was concluded that the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to these antibiotics indicates that efforts should be made to control the resistance.