Investigation and mapping of the prevalence of “superbugs” Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in Enugu metropolis in Southeast Nigeria
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Geoinformatics and Surveying, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
3 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Research Article
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023, 23(03), 245–254.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gscbps.2023.23.3.0239
Publication history:
Received on 06 May 2023; revised on 18 June 2023; accepted on 21 June 2023
Abstract:
Global public health is threatened by increasing incidence of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), usually referred to as “superbug, is a prominent AMR that is generating concerns across the world. They are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, thereby making treatment of common infections very difficult; resulting in prolonged illness and hospitalisation, disability and in some cases, death. Despite the concerns and threats posed by MRSA, studies of its prevalence in communities across Nigeria are scanty. Here, we investigated the prevalence of MRSA in the South East Nigeria using isolates obtained from two major hospitals in Enugu metropolis and a medical laboratory. The isolates were clinically identified from different specimens and pure isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility profiling using conventional antibiotics. Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were used to analyse the anonymised three year MRSA records. This provided relevant insights on the spatial spread of MRSA in the city. This research serves as a first step towards modelling its spatial epidemiology in the region. Results indicated that cases of MRSA were widespread in the city. Majority of MRSA were resistant to the antibiotics indicating that they are multidrug-resistant (MDR).
Spatiotemporal analyses conducted showed that incidence of MRSA was increasing by the year.
Keywords:
MRSA; Prevalence; South East Nigeria; Antimicrobial-resistance; GIS
Full text article in PDF:
Copyright information:
Copyright © 2023 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0
