DETECTION OF SELECTED BETA-LACTAMS AND FLUOROQUINOLONES RESISTANT GENES AMONG MDR S. AUREUS FROM FINGERNAILS OF HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS FROM TWO SELECTED HOSPITALS IN KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Beta-lactams and fluoroquinolone antibiotics are commonly used to treat infections caused by Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus. However, the emergence and dissemination of resistance to these antibiotics by these MDR bacteria poses significant challenges to public health in Nigeria, particularly Katsina State. This research, therefore, focuses on the detection of selected beta-lactams and fluoroquinolone resistant genes among MDR S. aureus isolates from fingernails of hospitalized patients from two general hospitals in Katsina State, Nigeria. A total of 150 fingernails swabs samples from hospitalize patients were analyzed for the presences of S. aureus. Isolates were identifies and characterized using standard biochemical test while antibiotic susceptibility tests were determined with disk diffusion methods. MDR isolates were selected based on their resistance to ≥ 3 classes of antibiotics while PCR amplification of nuc gene specific for S. aureus were used to confirm the selected MDR isolates identities. Afterwards, PCR amplification, was also used to detect mecA, qnrB and, parC genes. A total of 30 S. aureus were isolated in this study. This, findings revealed S. aureus high resistance to each of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (56.6%), ceftazidime (66.6%), cefoxitin (60%), ofloxacin (76.6%) and ciprofloxacin (93%). It was noticed that 80% (20/30) of the S. aureus were MDR respectively. Among the five MDR S. aureus selected for PCR amplification, 3 (60%) were confirmed as S. aureus furthermore Antibiotics resistance genes detected among S. aureus include that used for methicillin, mecA (40%) and fluoroquinolone, qnrB (60%) resistance. This study showed poor fingernails hygiene and likely imprudent use of antibiotics among hospitalized patients in the study locations. However, proper fingernails hygiene and prudent antibiotics use should be practice in order to mitigate the spread of MDR S. aureus strains among hospitalized patient.

Keywords: multidrug- resistant (MDR), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Methicillin resistance gene (mecA), Fluoroquinolone resistance genes (qnrB and parC)