Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Associated with Mobile Phone

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus on mobile phone. A total of sixty samples were collected for this study, the samples were collected by swapping the surface of the mobile phones using swap sticks. Isolation of bacteria was done on blood agar, MacConkey agar and mannitol salt agar. The isolates were identified on the basis of their morphology, colour pigmentation, hemolysis on blood agar and certain biochemical test. Antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out on the isolates. The isolates were tested against Rifampicin, Ciproflaxacin, Chloramphenicol, Amoxicilin, Erythromycin, Ampicillin, Gentamycin and Streptomycin. 101 bacteria were isolated from mobile phones of which 42(41.58%) were isolated from specialist hospital, 37(36.63%) were isolated from Jimeta modern market and 22(21.78%) from Modibbo Adama university. However, 19 isolates were confirmed to be Staphylococcus aureus with 9(47.37%) from specialist hospital, 6(31.58%) from Jimeta modern market and 4(21.05%) from Modibbo Adama university. Antibiotic susceptibility test on the isolated Staphylococcus aureus revealed that some of the isolates were resistant to the antibiotic tested while some were susceptible. Isolates designated as SAU03 is susceptible to all the antibiotics tested. All the isolate were also found to be susceptible to Rifampicin except SAU11. The overall prevalence of methicillin resistance (MRSA) was obtained as 5(45.46%) from specialist hospital Jimeta. There was high prevalence of MRSA with high rates of resistance in hospital setting than community setting. MRSA isolates were multi-drug resistant. Regular surveillance studies as well as institutional protocol should be formed as control measures