Methicillin-Ciprofloxacin Co-Resistance in Staphylococcus Aureus from Asymptomatic Nasal Carrier

Abstract

The current study was aimed to evaluate the co-existence of methicillin and ciprofloxacin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from the nares of asymptomatic healthy volunteers. Two hundred and seven (207) nasal swab samples were collected from participants belonging to, Community Associated and Hospital Associated environment and processed for the isolation of S. aureus using conventional identification technique. S. aureus was isolated from a total of 56 samples. 32 of these were from Male volunteers while 24 were from Female volunteers. The isolates were assessed for their antibiotic resistance potential against ciprofloxacin and methicillin using conventional Kirbey-baur disk diffusion test. 59% (n=33) of these showed resistance against methicillin while 26.7 % (n=15) were identified as ciprofloxacin resistant strains. About 21.2% of the Methicillin Resistant Strains displayed the co-resistance against ciprofloxacin. Categorically almost similar co-resistance was seen in case of isolates from both genders (i.e. Male: 21%, Female: 21.4%). None of the S. aureus strains isolated from community associated population showed co-resistance while co-resistance frequency among S. aureus isolated from hospital associated population was found to be 22.5%. The S. aureus isolated from the volunteers who consume tobacco products showed 63% reduced co-resistance than the S. aureus isolated from the volunteers who do not consume the tobacco products. Co-existence of ciprofloxacin and methicillin resistance was found comparatively higher (23.5%) in the isolates recovered from volunteers having ages below or equal to 25 years of age.