ABSTRACT

The threat posed by staphylococcal strains associated infections in the global village is becoming a problem of note. Antimicrobial resistance calls for adequate preventive and control measures to reduce transmission even among the perceived healthy students who might constitute a population of healthy carriers.  This study was carried out with the aim to evaluate the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of staphylococcal strains isolated form nasal mucosa (nose) and skin form healthy students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. A total of 50 clinical specimens comprising of nose and skin swab were collected from five (5) hostels cultured on mannitol salt and blood agar. Staphylococci strains were identified based on their conventional cultural characteristics, gram staining reaction and standard biochemical tests. All the isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by the disk diffusion technique according to the clinical and laboratory standard institute guidelines on mulller Hinten Agar. In all, 37 staphylococcus strains were isolated from the 50 clinical specimen. The details of these isolates comprising S. aureus (22), S. epidermidis (9), S. saprophyticus (6). Staphylococci strains recorded high level of resistance to chloramphenicol (36.4%), rifampicin (22.7%). The isolates were sensitive highly to levofloxacin (81.8%), gentamycin (68.2%) ciprofloxacin (22.7%).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgments iv

Table of Contents v

List of Tables viii

Abstract ix 

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Study 1

1.2 Aim of the Study 4

1.2.1 Specific objectives 4

1.3 Significance of the Study 5

CHAP I ER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Staphylococcus aureus 6

2.1.1 Laboratory Diagnostics 6

2.1.2 Cell Wall 6

2.1.3 Scientific classification 7

2.1.4 Diseases Caused by Staphylococcus aureus 8

2.1.5 Virulence Factors 9

2.1.6 Pathogenesis Staphylococcus aureus 9

2.2 Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus 10

2.2.1 Methicillin Resistance 10

2.2.2 Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus 11

2.3 Prevalence of ethic ileus-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 12

2.4 Impact of metiiicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection 13

2.5 Control of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in health care facilities14

2.5.1 Screening of Patients 14

2.5.2 Screening of Staff 15

2.5.3 Isolation and Barrier Nursing 15

2.5.4 Hand Hygiene 16

2.5.5 Environmental Cleaning 16

2.6 Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CONS) 17

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHOD

3.1 Study area 18

3.2 population study 18

3.3 Collection of samples 18

3.4 Sterilization of materials 19

3.5 Materials and media used 19

3.6 Media preparation 19 

3.7 Inoculation and isolation 20

3.8 Purification of isolates 20

3.9 Identification of the bacterial isolates 20

3.10 Isolation of different strains of staphylococcus 20

3.11 Identification Test of Isolates 21

3.12 Gram Staining 21

3.13 Biochemical Reaction Motility Test 21

3.13.1 Catalase test 22

3.13.2 Coagulase test 22

3.13.3 DNase test 22

3.14 Antibiotic Susceptibility Tests of Isolates 23

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Results 24

4.2 Discussion 32

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Conclusion 35 

5.2 Recommendations 35

REFERENCES 36

APPENDIXES 42 

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Identification and characterize of Different strains of staphylococcus 

Isolates 25

Table 2a: Staphylococcus strains isolated from nasal mucosa (Nose) and skin of 

ealthy students in M.O.U.A.U. 26

Table 2b Distribution of Staphylococcus strains isolated from nasal mucosa 

(Noise) and skin of healthy students in M.O.U.A.U 26

Table 3 Distribution of different staphylococcus strains isolated 27

Table 4 Antibiotic susceptibility of different staphylococcus strains isolates 28

Table 5a The number and percentage of staphylococcus strains resistance to 

Antibiotics 29

Table 5b The number and percentage of staphylococcus strains sensitive to 

Antibiotics 30

Table 5c The number and percentage of staphylococcus strains 

intermediate to antibiotics 31