Background: Inducible antibiotic resistance among Gram-positive cocci is a significant public health challenge that is grossly underreported within Africa, especially Nigeria. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin-B (MLSB) resistance among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Methodology: Clinical isolates were presumptively identified by Gram’s stain reaction and conventional biochemical tests such as catalase, coagulase, DNase, and mannitol fermentation. Phenotypic MLSB resistance was determined by placing clindamycin and erythromycin discs within 15 mm of each other and observing for a D-zone. Antibiotic sensitivity testing to selected antibiotics including cefoxitin for detection of methicillin resistance, was done using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Of the total 112 S. aureus isolates tested in the study, 31 (27.7%) were MLSB-resistant. MS phenotype (16.1%) was the most prevalent phenotype followed by constitutive MLSB (cMLSB) resistance (6.2%), and inducible MLSB (iMLSB) resistance (5.4%). All MLSB-resistant and sensitive S. aureus isolates were susceptible to linezolid, rifampin, tigecycline, and mupirocin while resistance rates of the MLSB resistant isolates (n=31) to other antibiotics were; tetracycline (58.1%), ciprofloxacin (48.4%), fusidic acid (41.9%), gentamicin (38.71%), cotrimoxazole (35.5%), fosfomycin (29.0%), and cefoxitin (70.9%). Comparatively, resistance rates of the MLSB-sensitive isolates (n=81) to other antibiotics are; tetracycline (70.4%), ciprofloxacin (39.5%), fusidic acid (22.2%), gentamicin (45.7%), cotrimoxazole (46.9%), fosfomycin (18.5%) and cefoxitin (34.6%). There was no significant difference in the antibiotic resistance rates between MLSB resistant and MLSB sensitive strains to the antibiotics (p>0.05) except to fusidic acid (p=0.0369) and cefoxitin (p<0.0001). There was also no significant difference in antibiotic resistance rates with respect to the three MLSB resistance phenotypes (p>0.05), except for fusidic acid which was significantly higher in cMLSB than other phenotypes (p=0.007). Conclusion: The introduction of MLSB resistance detection among Gram-positive cocci in routine microbiological practice can play an important role in monitoring inducible resistance and thereby preventing therapy failure.   French title: Prévalence de la résistance au macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramine-B parmi les isolats cliniques de Staphylo-coccus aureus à l'hôpital Universitaire de l'Université d'Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria Contexte: La résistance inductible aux antibiotiques chez les cocci à Gram positif est un défi de santé publique important qui est largement sous-déclaré en Afrique, en particulier au Nigeria. Par conséquent, le but de cette étude était de déterminer la prévalence de la résistance au macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramine-B (MLSB) parmi les isolats cliniques de Staphylococcus aureus à l'hôpital universitaire d'Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. Méthodologie: Les isolats cliniques ont été identifiés par présomption par la réaction de coloration de Gram et des tests biochimiques conventionnels tels que la catalase, la coagulase, la DNase et la fermentation du mannitol. La résistance phénotypique au MLSB a été déterminée en plaçant des disques de clindamycine et d'érythromycine à moins de 15 mm l'un de l'autre et en observant une zone D. Les tests de sensibilité aux antibiotiques pour certains antibiotiques, y compris la céfoxitine, pour la détection de la résistance à la méthicilline, ont été effectués à l'aide de la méthode de diffusion sur disque de Kirby-Bauer modifiée. Résultats: Sur les 112 isolats de S. aureus testés dans l'étude, 31 (27,7%) étaient résistants à la MLSB. Le phénotype MS (16,1%) était le phénotype le plus répandu, suivi de la résistance constitutive au MLSB (cMLSB) (6,2%) et de la résistance inductible au MLSB (iMLSB) (5,4 %). Tous les isolats de S. aureus résistants et sensibles au MLSB étaient sensibles au linézolide, à la rifampicine, à la tigécycline et à la mupirocine, tandis que les taux de résistance des isolats résistants au MLSB (n=31) à d'autres antibiotiques l'étaient; tétracycline (58,1%), ciprofloxacine (48,4%), acide fusidique (41,9%), gentamicine (38,7%), cotrimoxazole (35,5%), fosfomycine (29,0%) et céfoxitine (70,9%). Comparativement, les taux de résistance des isolats sensibles au MLSB (n=81) à d'autres antibiotiques sont; tétracycline (70,4%), ciprofloxacine (39,5%), acide fusidique (22,2%), gentamicine (45,7%), cotrimoxazole (46,9%), fosfomycine (18,5%) et céfoxitine (34,6%). Il n'y avait pas de différence significative dans les taux de résistance aux antibiotiques entre les souches résistantes au MLSB et les souches sensibles au MLSB aux antibiotiques (p>0,05) sauf à l'acide fusidique (p=0,0369) et à la céfoxitine (p<0,0001). Il n'y avait pas non plus de différence significative dans les taux de résistance aux antibiotiques par rapport aux trois phénotypes de résistance MLSB (p> 0, 05), à l'exception de l'acide fusidique qui était significativement plus élevé dans cMLSB que les autres phénotypes (p=0,007). Conclusion: L'introduction de la détection de la résistance MLSB parmi les coques Gram-positifs dans la pratique microbiologique de routine peut jouer un rôle important dans la surveillance de la résistance inductible et ainsi prévenir l'échec du traitement.

Hairdresser’s salons are public places that can contribute to the spread of viral, fungi and bacterial pathogens. However, little is known about the contamination of hairdressing tools by bacterial and fungal pathogens. Hence, this study was conducted to determine bacterial and fungal contaminants of tools used in hairdressing salons within Wukari metropolis, Taraba State. Eighty (80) different samples were collected from combs, brushes, rollers, and hairdryers used in hairdressing salons using sterile swab stick moistened with normal saline. Samples were cultured aerobically on nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, and sheep blood agar for bacterial isolation and potato dextrose agar for fungal isolation. Bacterial isolates were identified using conventional biochemical tests while fungal isolates were identified on the basis of their cell wall structure using the lactophenol cotton blue stain. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacterial isolates was tested using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Sixty-seven (83.75%) of the collected sample were positive for bacterial and/or fungal contamination, yielding twenty-two (22) and eighteen (18) isolates each of bacteria and fungi. The bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (81.82%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (13.64%), and Escherichia coli (4.64%) while the fungal isolates were Aspergillus fumigatus (31.25%), Aspergillus flavus (50%), Aspergillus niger (6.25%), Madurella grisea (6.25%), and Rhizopus stolonifera (6.25%). Bacterial isolates were generally sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, rifampicin, ofloxacin, and streptomycin. The highest resistances were against cefuroxime, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, and augmentin. The presence of these microorganisms on hairdressing tools is an indication of poor hygienic practices among hairstylists in Wukari and these tools can serve as vehicles for the transmission of bacterial pathogens. Hence, appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the microbial load from hairdressing salons instruments.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a potent nosocomial pathogen of immunocompromised individuals, causing several infections while also resisting chemotherapy with conventional antimicrobial agents. Hence, this study was carried out to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of P. aeruginosa associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Wukari, Taraba State. Thirty (30) voided midstream urine were collected from clinically diagnosed UTI patients attending Wukari general hospital and cultured aerobically on MacConkey agar and cysteine-lactose-electrolyte-deficient (CLED) agar. Bacterial isolates were identified by Gram staining and conventional biochemical tests. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was done using the modified Kirby-Bauer method of the disc diffusion test. A total of 46 uropathogens were isolated of which 8 (17.39%) were identified as P. aeruginosa. Of these 8 isolates, 6 (75%) were isolated from male patients while 2 (25%) were isolated from female patients. All isolates of P. aeruginosa were susceptible to imipenem, ofloxacin, gentamicin, and levofloxacin. The resistances included resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanate (100%), cefepime (87.5%), cefotaxime (87.5%), ampiclox (75%), ceftriaxone (62.5%), cefuroxime (62.5%), and nalidixic acid (37.5%). High resistance rates against penicillins and cephalosporins are an indication of intrinsic resistance in P. aeruginosa. Hence, chemotherapy with imipenem, ofloxacin, gentamicin, and levofloxacin should be regularly monitored to prevent the development of resistant strains.

Background:The toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) is important in the pathology of toxic shock syndrome. However, little data exist on its prevalence among clinical isolates of S. aureus in Nigeria. Hence, this study was carried out to detect the tsst-1 gene and associate it with phenotypic antibiotic resistance in clinical isolates of S. aureus. Methods: Staphylococcus aureus isolates were presumptively identified by Gram's staining and conventional biochemical tests while confirmatory identification was through the detection of the thermonuclease (nuc) gene. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was carried out using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method while phenotypic detection of methicillin resistance was carried out using the cefoxitin disc sensitivity assay. The tst gene was detected within the genome of the bacterial isolates using Uniplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Of the 152 S. aureus isolates identified in this study, 103 (67.76%) encoded the tst gene. Of these 103 tst-positive isolates, 63 (61.16%) were methicillin-resistant while 40 (38.84%) were methicillin-sensitive. The tst-positive isolates (n=103) were resistant to tetracycline (39.81%), erythromycin (24.27%), gentamicin (22.33%), cotrimoxazole (22.33%), ciprofloxacin (21.36%), fusidic acid (16.5%), fosfomycin (10.68%), and clindamycin (5.82%). Comparatively, tst-negative isolates (n=49) were resistant to tetracycline (69.39%), cotrimoxazole (56.06%), gentamicin (53.06%), ciprofloxacin (51.02%), erythromycin (46.94%), fusidic acid (28.57%), fosfomycin (26.53%), and clindamycin (8.16%). Phenotypic antibiotic resistance is significantly associated with the presence of the tst gene (p<0.05) except for clindamycin and fusidic acid (p>0.05). Coclusion: Hence, the high prevalence of the tst gene and its association with antibiotic resistance in S. aureus is a cause for worry.