ABSTRACT

 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus constitutes part of the growing health problem associated with chemotherapy because they are more difficult to treat and could transfer drug resistance to other bacteria. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among secondary school students in Umuahia. A total of '50 nasal and 50 skin swab samples were obtained from for the purpose. of this work. The samples were inoculated directly on to mannitol salt agar and incubated for 24 hours at 37. The positive plates were sub cultured on nutrient agar. The bacterial species were identified using staining techniques and biochemical tests. A total of 57 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus of which is (57%) were obtained from the 100 nasal and skin swab samples obtained from the participants. The susceptibility test results showed cefotaxime and imipenem to be the least effective agent with 61.4% bacterial resistance respectively, followed by ceftriaxone and Azithromycin with a percentage of 56.1%, ceftriaxone with 56.l %, then cefexime with 50.8%, while the least percentage resistance was observed in ofloxacin 7.0%, ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin with 8.8%. The rate of Methicillin Resistance among Staphylococcus aureus isolates from the nasal and skin swab samples of school children was found to be 29 representing (50.9%), with 13 representing (41.9%) from the nasal swab, while a higher isolation of MRSA was observed in the skin swab samples of children with 16 representing (61.5%). The results also, indicate that ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin and gentamicin are active against the MRSA isolated. Antibiotic stewardship programs that promote judicious use of antibiotic are advocates and could prove to be more cost effective, then targeted screening based on risk factors, isolation of the carriers and decolonization.