Methicillin Resistance and Multiple Antibiotics Resistance Indices of Staphylococcus Aureus Recovered From Anterior Nares and Skin Of Tertiary Level Students in a Nigerian University

Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), poses significant health risks in educational institutions. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence, antibiotic resistance patterns, and multiple antibiotic resistance indices of S. aureus isolated from tertiary students. Nasal and skin swab samples were collected from 50 tertiary students (25 males, 25 females) and analyzed for S. aureus isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing against six antibiotics. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) indices were calculated, and statistical analysis was performed to determine associations between demographic factors and resistance patterns. S. aureus was isolated from 42.0% (21/50) of participants, with females showing slightly higher carriage rates (44.0%) than males (40.0%). Participants aged 21-25 years demonstrated the highest carriage rate (61.5%). Among 42 S. aureus isolates, methicillin resistance was extremely high, with 98% (41/42) showing resistance to both cloxacillin and cefoxitin. Erythromycin resistance was 90% (38/42), gentamicin 52% (22/42), ciprofloxacin 38% (16/42), and vancomycin 29% (12/42). No significant associations were found between gender and resistance patterns (χ² = 2.342, p = 0.673) or between anatomical sites and resistance profiles (χ² = 3.781, p = 0.582). Skin isolates showed higher mean MAR index (0.6) compared to nasal isolates (0.45), though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.421). The high MRSA prevalence (98%) among S. aureus isolates from tertiary students represents a critical public health concern requiring immediate intervention through enhanced infection control measures and antimicrobial stewardship programs.