ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPECIES ISOLATED FROM STAIRCASE RAILINGS IN CALEB UNIVERSITY

Surfaces frequently touched with hands in school environment harbour potential pathogens and may act as source of infectious agents. The aim of this research was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of bacteria present on staircase railings in Caleb University. A total of ten (10) samples were collected from the three (3) female hostels in Caleb University using sterile swab-sticks. Nutrient Agar and Mannitol Salt Agar was used to isolate and count Staphylococci isolates. Biochemical tests such as the Gram staining reaction, Catalase, Sugar Fermentation Test, Citrate Utilization Test and Motility Tests were used to identify the isolates. Staphylococcus aureus accounting for 70% of the total isolates and Staphylococcus epidermidis accounting for 30% of the isolates. All the isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion. Diameters of the zone of inhibition on Mueller Hinton agar were measured and interpretation was made based on CLSI guidelines. The percentage resistance of the isolates were Ofloxacin (30%), Cefotaxime (100%), Ceftriaxone (40%), Cefixime (100%), Levofloxacin (30%), Ciprofloxacin (20%), Azithromycin (30%), Cefuroxime (80%), Amoxicillin
(100%), Erythromycin (30%), Imipenem (90%), Gentamicin (40%) and Oxacillin (70%). Some of the isolates were susceptible to Ofloxacin (70%), Ceftriaxone (60%), levofloxacin (70%), Ciprofloxacin (80%), Azithromycin (70%), cefuroxime (20%), Erythromycin (20%), Imepinem (10%), Oxacillin (30%) and Gentamicin (50%). This research work showed that Staphylococcus spp. contamination is common on the staircase surfaces in Caleb University. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates suggests the presence of multi-drug resistant organisms, which could potentially be passed from person to person via the staircase railings surfaces in the University. This calls for proper and effective cleaning and sanitization of dry surfaces.