Prevalence of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) at the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital (Barh), Sunyani

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April, 2016
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Abstract
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are associated with higher risk of mortality and greater costs to the health-care system, however there is paucity of data on its prevalence in Ghana, and especially in the Brong Ahafo region. This research was aimed at determining the prevalence of MRSA at the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital (BARH) and to identify sites within the hospital which may be prone to MRSA infection or transmission. In all, three hundred and twenty-seven (327) participants were recruited for the study, including outpatients, visitors, hospital personnel and some inpatients. This comprised of one hundred and twenty-four (124) males and two hundred and three (203) females. The participant population was stratified into two main groups; Group 1 included patients and visitors from the main OPD and the various clinics, and Group 2 comprised inpatients, hospital staff, and visitors attending to patients at the Wards and other departments. Nasal swab samples were obtained and inoculated on mannitol salt agar and suspected S. aureus colonies were confirmed through morphological and biochemical tests. Cefoxitin disc diffusion test was carried out to identify the methicillin resistant strains. The Oxoid Penicillin binding protein (PBP2′) latex agglutination test kit was used to confirm the production of the mecA gene product, penicillin binding protein 2a (PBP2a). The study revealed a prevalence of 8.0% at the hospital and 47.3% of the S. aureus isolates were resistant while 52.7% were susceptible. A comparison between the genders did not show any significant difference in prevalence (p = 0.6273). No significance difference was found in the prevalence between the adult and children age groups (p = 0.3712). It was however revealed that sample sites including the main outpatient department (OPD) and the various clinics recorded a significantly higher MRSA prevalence of 10.5% compared to the 1.1% prevalence recorded at the wards and other departments which included laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, administration, and other areas (p = 0.0052). It was therefore necessary to establish better equipped hand washing areas at vantage areas around the hospital as prescribed by the WHO. It is also important that appropriate hygienic practices are instilled in all hospital personnel, patients and visitors to the hospital through continuous education in order to forestall any future outbreak.
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A thesis submitted to The Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the Master of Science Degree in Biotechnology,
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