Incidence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) In a Small Poultry in South West, Nigeria.

Abstract

Microbiological studies were carried out in a small poultry farm in a Community in South West Nigeria following a report of acute diarrhea in 6-week old broilers, catarrh and cough in the poultry attendants. Nasal swabs were collected from 25 symptomatic and 5 asymptomatic attendants. Swabs were collected from the cloacae of 100 birds with diarrhea. Twenty-five (100%) symptomatic attendants carried Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in their nostrils. Five asymptomatic attendants carried Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Ninety five (95%) cloacae swabs yielded MRSA and five (5%) yielded Lactose-fermenting (LF) isolates suggestive of Escherichia coli on MacConkey agar. There was an incidence of 83.3% MRSA in the poultry attendants, and 95% in chickens in the poultry. Cross infection of MRSA seems to occur from chickens to the attendants in the poultry farm.