*1Ikeagwu, I. J., 2,3Oshim, I. O., 4Obi, C. M., 5Odeyemi, O., 4Urama, E. U., 6Ikeagwulonu, C. R., 2,7Azi, S. O., 2,7Aniokete, U. C., 4Okeke-Nwolisa, B. C., and 2,3Okekpa,S. I.
1Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, David Umahi Federal University of Health Science, Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
3International Institute for Oncology and Cancer, Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
4Department of Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria
5Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Achiever University, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria
6Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
7International Institute of Infectious Disease, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
*Correspondence to: judithfmc@gmail.com
Abstract:
Background: The emergence of antibiotic resistance among coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) is an important factor in nosocomial infections outcomes in the healthcare system. This study aimed to phenotypically detect methicillin resistance and genotypically detect mecA gene and other virulence markers in coagulasenegative staphylococci isolated from patients with suspected urinary tract infection (UTI) in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA), Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Methodology: A total of 704 patients (adults and children) with clinical features suggestive of UTI, attending the Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, were randomly selected for the study. Urine samples were collected from the patients, cultured in mannitol salt agar (MSA) and CoNS identified using conventional microbiological methods. Genotypic confirmation of CoNS was done for 15 randomly selected isolates using the 16S rRNA gene amplification and Big Dye terminator sequencing. Phenotypic detection of methicillin resistance was done using cefoxitin disc diffusion test and confirmed by PCR amplification of a 533-base pair mecA gene fragment. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27.0, and Chi-square test was used to determine association between qualitative variables obtained in this study.
Results: A total of 50 CoNS were isolated from the samples of 704 patients with suspected UTI, 29 (58.0%) of which were phenotypically methicillin-resistant-CoNS and included all the mecA gene positive isolates. Of the 15 confirmed CoNS by 16S rRNA sequencing, 4 were Staphylococcus condimenti, 4 were Staphylococcus gallinarum, 3 were Staphylococcus simulans, 3 were Staphylococcus haemolyticus and 1 was Staphylococcus sciuri.
Conclusion: The study recorded a high rate of methicillin resistance among CoNS isolates, indicating that there is need for consistent monitoring and evaluation of antibiotic use in hospital settings to curtail the concerning increase in prevalence of mecA gene-positive CoNS isolates.
Keywords: methicillin-resistance, coagulase-negative staphylococci, mecA, 16S rRNA, sequencing
Download this Article in PDF format below