Coexistence of the blaZ gene and selected virulence determinants in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: insights from three Nigerian tertiary hospitals

The co-occurrence of the blaZ gene with PVL, capsular polysaccharide genes, and agr alleles is associated with biofilm formation, indicating a high risk of β-lactam-resistant S. aureus infections. Our findings highlight the need for continuous molecular surveillance to enhance infection management, treatment options, and patient outcomes in the study locality. A limitation of this study is the random selection of MDR isolates, which may affect the comprehensiveness of the analyses.