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Published on: September 3, 2016
Nasal Carriage, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile, and Enterotoxin Genes of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from
Oyewumi Oshamika1, Oreoluwa Sonowo1, Yeside Akinbolagbe2
1Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Canaan Land, KM 10 Idiroko Rd, Ota, 112104 Ogun State Nigeria.
Insights
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is higher in children with asthma. This highlights the need for better antibiotic stewardship and infection control in pediatric care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition in children globally.
- Increasing evidence links Staphylococcus aureus to asthma pathology.
- Understanding S. aureus nasal carriage in asthmatic children is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine S. aureus nasal carriage rates in children with asthma compared to healthy controls.
- To analyze the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of S. aureus isolates.
- To identify enterotoxin genes in S. aureus from pediatric asthma cases.
Main Methods:
- Nasal swabs from 158 children (98 with asthma, 60 controls) were analyzed.
- S. aureus identification using phenotypic methods and the nuc gene.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility via Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion; PCR for mecA and enterotoxin genes.
Main Results:
- S. aureus nasal carriage was 52.5% overall, significantly higher in asthma cases (72.4%).
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carriage was 11.4%.
- High resistance to cefoxitin (99%) and penicillin (92%); 67.5% were multi-drug resistant. sec gene was most prevalent (19.7%).
Conclusions:
- Elevated S. aureus nasal carriage in children with asthma warrants attention.
- High rates of antimicrobial resistance and multi-drug resistance are concerning.
- Findings emphasize the need for enhanced antibiotic stewardship and infection control in pediatric settings.
Abstract:
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects children worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that Staphylococcus aureus contributes to the pathology of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nasal carriage, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and presence of enterotoxin genes from S. aureus isolated from children with asthma. Nasal swab samples were collected from 158 children, including 98 children with asthma and 60 healthy controls. S. aureus isolates were identified using phenotypic methods and the presence of the nuc gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of the mecA gene and enterotoxin genes. The nuc gene was confirmed in 83 isolates, resulting in a nasal carriage of 52.5% (83/158). The nasal carriage of S. aureus was higher among asthma cases (72.4%), with a significant association of S. aureus nasal carriage observed among asthma cases (OR 0.201, 95% CI 0.063-0.645, p = 0.007). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage was 11.4%. The S. aureus isolates showed high resistance to cefoxitin (99%) and penicillin (92%) but were sensitive to gentamicin (25%). Furthermore, 67.5% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. The staphylococcal enterotoxin c gene (sec) was the most prevalent enterotoxin (19.7%) among cases and controls. These findings highlight the need for improved antibiotic stewardship in paediatric medicine and implementation of infection control policies.
Supplementary Information:
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-024-01272-z.
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