Molecular Detection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated From Hospital Patients and Food Handlers in FCT, North Central, Nigeria

Antimicrobial susceptibility profile and molecular detection of methicillin resistant genes isolated from hospital patients and food handlers in Abuja, Nigeria was evaluated. Specimen collection, identification, isolation and characterization were done following standard microbiological procedures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed for the detection of the mecA gene associated with methicillin resistance and other virulent marker genes associated with pathogenicity of S. aureus such as Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL), BlaZ and Nuc genes. The result showed a 27.34 % prevalence rate of S. aureus isolates in Abuja metropolis, 38.02 % prevalence rate was observed in clinical samples while food handlers had 16.67 %. Isolates from hospital patients were more resistant to the antibiotics tested than those from the food handlers. Vancomycin was the most effective antibiotic for MRSA isolates from both clinical patients and food handlers while linezolid could be used as an alternative. This study also observed that all the MRSA isolates were resistant to more than three antibiotics (multidrug resistant). High percentage of the isolates (83.33 %) that had cefoxitin MIC of 6g/ml encoded mecA gene. Nuc gene was observed in 45.83 % of the isolates, 4.17 % encoded PVL gene while none of the isolates harbored the blaZ gene. The finds from this study showed a high prevalence of methicillin-resistance S. aureus from clinical patients and food handlers sampled and these sources could serve as source of MRSA dissemination in the community.