Characterisation of Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolated from urinary tract infections.
OBJECTIVE
To determine some virulence factors and antimicrobial susceptibilities of Staphylococcus haemolyticus from urinary tract infections.


METHODS
This was a laboratory based cross sectional study on S. haemolyticus isolates from urinary tract infections.


METHODS
College of Health Sciences in Harare, Zimbabwe.


METHODS
People of all ages with urinary tract infections presenting at health centres in Harare.


METHODS
Prevalence of virulence factors and antimicrobial susceptibilities of S. haemolyticus isolates.


RESULTS
Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) was produced by 91.8%, delta-haemolysin by 75.5% and slime by 32.7% of the 49 S. haemolyticus isolates. Less than 10% of the isolates produced lipase, alpha haemolysin and protease. All the S. haemolyticus isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and 79.6% to clindamycin. Over 70% of the isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole, erythromycin, oxacillin, ampicillin and penicillin G. Multi-drug resistance to five or more drugs was observed in 69.4% of the isolates. Twenty nine of the 37 isolates that produced delta-haemolysin showed multi-drug resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
The virulence factors produced by many S. haemolyticus were DNase and delta-haemolysin. Most of the isolates were resistant to many antimicrobial drugs.
Simango
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Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D041162:Staphylococcus haemolyticus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology