PREVALENCE OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN WOUND INFECTIONS OF PATIENTS ATTENDING SELECTED HOSPITALS IN ESAN CENTRAL, EDO STATE. NIGERIA

This study investigates the prevalence of Methicillin ResistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection associated with wound patientsfrom selected hospitals in Esan-Central, Edo State. A total of 152 woundswabs specimens were collected and analyzed. The study populationcomprised 88 males and 64 females. Bacterial isolates were identified usingGram staining and biochemical tests, including catalase and coagulase;antibiotic susceptibility tests was done using Kirby Bauer disc diffusionmethod. 38 (25%) Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified, out ofwhich 31 (81.58%) were methicillin resistant and 7 (18.42%) weremethicillin sensitive. In this study, the overall prevalence of MRSA inwound infection was 20.39%. The prevalence of MRSA in wound infectionvaried insignificantly (p>0.05) with age, with the highest respondents of ≥70 years old 1 (100%), followed by patients within the age range of 40-49years old 7 (25.0%), while those within age groups 30-39, ≤19, 60-69, 20-29 and 50-59 old had prevalence 9 (22.50%), 4 (22.22%), 2 (20.0%), 6(15.38%), 2 (12.50) respectively MRSA infection amongst male was higher21 (23.86%) than females 10 (15.63%) although not statistically significant(p>0.05). There was also no significant variation of MRSA infection basedon occupation, although farmers had the highest prevalence, 9(32.14%)followed by teachers 6(28.57%). The results suggest the importance and roleof diagnostic clinical microbiology in determining appropriate antimicrobialtherapy thus limiting the emergence and cross transmission of antimicrobialresistant bacteria and in turn decreased morbidity and mortality.