Prevalence and clonal lineages of biofilm-producing Staphylococcus aureus from clinical samples and healthcare workers at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

This study determined the frequency and molecular features of <i>Staph</i> <i>y</i> <i>lo</i> <i>coccus aureus</i> from 206 burn and wound patients (BWPs) as well as 94 healthcare workers (HCWs) at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Nine (4.4%) and five (5.3%) samples from BWPs and HCWs were identified as S<i>. aureus</i> positive, respectively. Seven (50%) were <i>mecA</i>-positive (associated with SCC<i>mec</i> types IVa and V), while 35.7% presented a multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. The <i>S. aureus</i> isolates belonged to 11 diverse <i>spa</i> types, including three new (t4539, t6043, t11694) and one singleton (t779), which were assigned to four clonal complexes. Two <i>tst</i> and three <i>luk-F/S-PV</i> carrying strains were identified. All the <i>S. aureus</i> isolates were moderate biofilm producers with diverse combinations of the <i>icaABCD</i> biofilm and <i>icaR</i> regulatory genes. The detection of genetically diverse <i>S. aureus</i> lineages and toxigenic strains highlights the need for improved surveillance of resistant and pathogenic strains in healthcare facilities.