Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated From Food Handlers in Abuja, Nigeria Review

Anowai C. O., Agarry O. O., Akin-Osanaiye B. C.

The antibiotic susceptibility profile of S. aureusisolated from food handlers was evaluated in Abuja using standard epidemiological and agar disc diffusion methods. The result showed that out of 180samples collected from the six area councils in Abuja, nasal swabs had 18.2% of S. aureus isolates and hand swabs had 12.3%. The prevalence rate of S. aureus was 15.5% (28) out of 180 food handlers sampled, the highest occurrence (68.8%) was observed in age group 20 – 39 years, while there was no significant difference in the distribution of S. aureus in the area sampled. Male food handlers (64.3%) had higher infection rate compared to their female counterparts (35.7%) except in AMAC and Kwali area councils. The S. aureus isolates were highly resistant to Cefoxitin and Oxacillin (82.1%) and Tetracycline (71.4%); mildly resistant to Ceftazidime (64.3%), Amoxicillin (53.6%), Erythromycin (50.0%) and Clindamycin (46.4%), but 100% susceptible to Vancomycin, Linezolid (85.7%) and Ciprofloxacin (67.9%). Significant percentages of the isolates (35.7%) weremultidrug resistant and 60.7% had MARI index > 0.2. The most common resistance pattern observed wasFOX,OX,CIP, and it occurred in 18.8% of the populace. This study showed the possibility of food handlers serving as route of transmission of antibiotic resistance pathogens and more so showcase the need to monitor the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of pathogenic bacteria in our environment as this will enable clinicians, in selecting empiric antimicrobial therapy,formulate rational public healthcare policies, and provide useful information on the global surveillance of this pathogen.