Phenotypic and Molecular Profiling of Multidrug-Resistant Quinolone- and β-Lactamase-Producing Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Labour Room Settings in Selected Hospitals of Katsina State, Nigeria.

Abstract

β-lactam and fluoroquinolone antibiotics are widely used in managing infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus. However, the emergence and spread of resistance to these agents pose serious public health threats, particularly in healthcare environments across Katsina State, Nigeria. This study investigated the presence of selected β-lactamase and quinolone resistance genes in MDR S. aureus isolates obtained from labour room environments in four hospitals within the state. A total of 240 environmental swab samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of S. aureus. Isolates were identified using standard biochemical methods, and their antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined via the disk diffusion method. MDR status was defined as resistance to three or more antibiotic classes. Species confirmation was performed using PCR targeting the nuc gene, followed by detection of quinolone resistance genes (qnrA, qnrD, and parC) among the confirmed MDR isolates. Twenty-eight S. aureus isolates were recovered. A prevalence of 82.35% was observed across all the hospitals. High levels of resistance were observed to amoxicillin-clavulanate (100%), cefoxitin (100%), erythromycin (54.5%), and ciprofloxacin (54.5%). Fourteen isolates (50%) were identified as MDR. Among the five selected MDR isolates, PCR confirmed all as S. aureus (nuc) positive, with 80% harbouring qnrD, 40% qnrA, and 20% parC genes. These findings underscore a significant burden of MDR S. aureus and associated resistance genes in labour room environments, highlighting the urgent need for reinforced infection prevention practices and responsible antibiotic use to mitigate further dissemination within maternity healthcare settings.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, multidrug resistance, β-lactamase, quinolone resistance.