Prevalence of Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> among students in college of Health Sciences at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a significant threat to public health due to its resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and its ability to cause severe infections among clinical students. The study utilized a cross-sectional design to evaluate the p r e v a l e n c e o f M e t h i c i l l i n - r e s i s t a n t Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Health Science Students. Simple random sampling technique was used to select a total of 129 students from the College of Health Sciences at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria, participated in the study. Structured questionnaires were administered to gather data on participants' demographic characteristics, awareness of MRSA, and associated risk factors. Nasal swab samples were collected from each participant aseptically to identify potential MRSA colonization. The samples were cultured on Mannitol salt agar. Gram staining was done to confirm the grown organism as gram positive bacteria. Catalase test was conducted to identify the presence of catalase-producing organisms, while the coagulase test confirmed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. The sample that yielded S. aureus were subjected to Methicillin resistant screening using cefoxitin as a surrogate antibiotic with a breakpoint set at ≤21 mm for resistant and ≥22 mm for susceptible. The data were analyzed using SPSS Package 25. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test was applied to assess the statistical significance of associations between MRSA prevalence and demographic factor and potential factors, with a significance threshold set at p < 0.05. This study found a significant prevalence of MRSA (45.6%) among Staphylococcus aureus isolates, confirmed through resistance to cefoxitin. Awareness level was generally high, with 84.5% of participants aware of MRSA and 96.1% recognizing its antibiotic resistance. Gaps in formal education were evident, as 40.3% had not received training on MRSA prevention. Identified risk factors included shared accommodation (48.8%), close-contact activities (46.5%), and recent antibiotic use (42.6%). With high awareness, 25.6% reported inadequate adherence to hand hygiene practices. This study reveals a concerningly high prevalence of MRSA colonization among health science students, despite widespread awareness. The findings highlight critical gaps in formal training and hygiene compliance, underscoring the urgent need for structured educational programs, stricter adherence to infection control practices, and robust antibiotic stewardship to curb MRSA transmission in healthcare settings.