Prevalence of gene among from clinical samples of a tertiary hospital in Benin City, Nigeria.

Background: The have increasingly been associated with infections worldwide and anti-microbial resistance has made these versatile pathogens more recalcitrant in the hospital setting.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the occurrence and distribution of species as well as determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant (MRSA) and methicillin resistant coagulase negative (MRCoNS) among clinical samples from University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Benin City.

Methods: Ninety one (91) clinical isolates comprising and Coagulase Negative (CoNS) were recovered from routine clinical specimens and anti-microbial susceptibility tests were carried out. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was thereafter carried out on these isolates to detect gene.

Results: species had its highest prevalence from infected wounds of patients (28.8%) while urine samples showed the least (5.4%). The highest level of resistance was to ceftazidime ( - 68%, CoNS - 75.6%) while the least resistance was observed for meropenem (- 26%, CoNS- 46.3%). Using phenotypic method (with 1µg oxacillin antibiotic disc), the distribution of MRSA and MRCoNS was 44.0% and 46.3% respectively. PCR analysis showed that 38.0% of and 41.5% of the CoNS had gene respectively; wound swabs showed the highest prevalence with 30.5% of isolates being mecA gene positive. There was also no significant association between the isolates and their isolation rate, isolation site and gene distribution (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: This study draws attention on the increase in the prevalence of gene (39.6%) and an increase in multidrug resistant when compared to previous studies in our country; it recommends laboratory guidance and periodic review to stem the tide of resistance.