Prevalence of Multi Drug Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci among some Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic in Yola, Nigeria

Abstract

Study’s Novelty/Excerpt

• This study presents findings on the prevalence and characterization of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) among pregnant women in public health facilities in Yola, revealing a significant prevalence rate of 26.97%.
• The research highlights the high susceptibility of CoNS to certain antibiotics and the alarming presence of multi-drug resistant and extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing strains.
• This underscores the necessity for routine screening of pregnant women for CoNS to prevent potential gestational complications, providing crucial data for public health interventions and antibiotic stewardship programs.

Full Abstract

Coagulase negative staphylococci have been reported to be a frequent agent of uncomplicated UTI in young sexually active women which can also lead to symptomatic infection, low birth weight (LBW) babies and preterm delivery. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and characterize coagulase negative staphylococci among pregnant women in public health facilities in Yola. A total of 250 urine samples were collected from pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Specialist Hospital and Boshang Clinic and Maternity both in Yola. The samples were cultured on cysteine lactose electrolyte deficient medium and isolates characterized using phenotypic methods. The prevalence of coagulase negative staphylococci from this study was 26.97%, Staphylococcus aureus 16.29% and Escherichia coli 36.51%. The frequency of CoNS was highest among age group of 36-40 years and least among 16-20 years (12.5%). CONS isolated from this study demonstrated high susceptibility to pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, ceftriaxone and streptomycin.  Some isolates showed high resistance to ampiclox, cefuroxime and amoxicillin. About 83% of the isolates had multiple antibiotic resistant indexes greater than 0.2 with about 25% of the antibiotic resistance being plasmid mediated. Furthermore, phenotypic screening using the double disk synergy test showed that 20 (40%) of the isolates were extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) producing. This study revealed the presence of multi-drug resistant and ESBL producing coagulase negative staphylococci among pregnant women in the study area.  There is therefore the need for pregnant women to be screened for coagulase negative staphylococci to avoid complications during gestation period.