Nasal Carriage Of Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus Aureus Among Food Handlers In Umudike

ABSTRACT

 The Prevalence of methicilin resistant Stapylococcus aureus was assessed among food handlers in Umudike. Nasal swabs were collected from 50 food handlers made up of' 9 males and 41 females. Forty Iwo (84%) of' samples yielded growth with 35(70%) denti lied as aiueii.v. The Antibiotic sensitivity of the isolates was done usini Kii'bv-lauei techniuc v ABTEK antibiotic susceptibility kit containing 8 antibiotics Ceitaiidine(3Uug). Cloxacillin(5ug), Augumentin(30ug), Cefuroxime(30ug). Gentamicin( I Oug). 011o\acin( 5ug). Frvthromycin( 5uit) and C'eiti'iaxone( 30ui) .35 (1 00%) of' the isolates were esstan a Ceftazidine, Cloxacillin, Augumentin and Cef'uroxime. '[he isolates were sensitive to ( ientaniicin 13(3 7°/o) and () iloxacin 7(20%). [his study indicates that the multi drug Meihiei II in (C loxac II a) resistant SiapInIacoccii. uiiiciis strains are wide spread among food handlers and the need I maintenance 0! good hygiene practices by food handlers should be emphasii.ed to avoid an increased rate of' transmission to eonsumcrs.