SCREENING FOR METHICILLIN RESISTANT Staphylococcus Aureus FROM HANDS, KNIVES AND TABLES OF MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS VENDORS IN SOME SELECTED AREAS IN KANO, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Swabs of hands, Fresh Meat, Meat products, MRSA, Antimicrobials.Abstract
A total of 120 swab samples of hands, knives and tables of Fresh meat, Balangu, Kilishi and
Tsire vendors were investigated for the presence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA). Samples were randomly taken using sterile swab stick at different retailing
points within the local governments constituting Kano Metropolis. Staphylococcus aureus
isolates were isolated using mannitol salt agar. Identification of isolates was done using
biochemical tests. From the 120 swab samples analyzed, 12 S. aureus isolates were detected.
Out off the 12 isolates, 6(50%) were from the hands of the vendors, 2(16.67%) from knives
and 4(33.33%) were from tables. The isolated organisms were subjected to sensitivity tests
using clinical laboratory standards Institute (CLSI) break point procedure. Only 8% out of the
12 S. aureus isolates was confirmed MRSA positive but with no statistical significant
difference at P- value 95% in the occurrence rate of MRSA among the samples. This is a
challenge to public health policy makers in the state.
