ABSTRACT

 Staphylococcus aureus which is one of the most successful and adaptable human pathogens that can exist as a commensal on human skin on one hand and become a pathogen capable of causing serious infections in both healthcare facilities and in the community. A total of 40 clinical isolates Staphylococcus aureus were obtained from clinical patients attending the Abia Specialist Hospital and Oevent Laboratory and Research Center, Umuahia, Abia State. The morphological and biochemical characteristics of the isolates were carried out. The frequency of occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical isolates showed samples from wound swab 72.5% had the highest rate of occurrence followed by Urine 12.5%, Urethral swab 10% while the ear swab 5% had the least percentage of occurrence. For confirmation of the isolates, samples were inoculated on Nutrient, MacConkey and Mannitol Salt agar by streaking method and incubated at 37°C for 24hrs. The antibiotic sensitivity pattern was done by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates revealed that the isolates of S. aureus exhibited high rates of resistance to various antibiotics drugs. Staphylococcus aurues showed high rates of resistance to Levofloxacin, 79% followed by Streptomycin, 68.9%, Ciproflox, 41%, Gentamicin, 41%, Rifampicin, 37.9%, Erythromycin, 34.5%, Amoxil, 31%, Chioramphenicol, 20.7% ,Norfloxacin 24% and Ampiclox, 13.8% from wound swab, while from urine samples collected the resistance pattern revealed that Levofloxacin, Erythromycin and Streptomycin showed a rate of 100% , from the Urethral swab it was revealed that the isolate was resistant to Levofloxacin 100%. This may not be particularly surprising given the unrestricted access to and the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents. The present study shows that there is a very high level of resistance to a variety of antibiotics among strains of S. aureus in Umuahia. It is therefore necessary to properly subject individuals infected with Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotic susceptibility test to detect the antibiotic profile of the causative agent for easy treatment with the best choice of antimicrobial agent. There is a need for greater control and rational use of antibiotics in order to control the rate of resistance development and spread of resistant organisms in the community.