Relationship between multiple drug resistance and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from medical and non-medical personnel in Yaounde, Cameroon.
BACKGROUND
Monitoring the prevalence of nasal carriage of multiple drug resistance (MDR) Staphylococcus aureus (SA) strains in hospital personnel is essential. These strains when transmitted from hospital personnel to patients with already weakened immune states or in-built medical devices, may limit the latter's treatment options. This study aimed at assessing the potential exposure of patients to these MDR SA in a resource-limited hospital setting by assessing the prevalence and relationship between antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm forming capacity of SA isolates from hospital personnel.


METHODS
A total of 59 bacteria isolates phenotypically identified as Staphylococcus aureus obtained from medical (39) and non-medical personnel (20) in Yaounde were used in the study. Multiple drug resistance defined as resistance to four or more of twelve locally used antibiotics were determined by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique whereas quantification of biofilm production was by the microtitre plate method.


RESULTS
Among the 59 SA isolates, the prevalence of MDR was 50.9%. Among medical personnel 48.7% had MDR as against 55.9% for non-medical personnel (p-value=0.648). The overall percentage of weak biofilm producers was 35.6%. Although the prevalence of weak biofilm formers was higher in isolates from non-medical personnel (40%) than medical personnel (33.3%) the difference was not statistically significant (p-value= 0.246). Slightly less than half (42.9%) of the weak biofilm producers were MDR.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the high rates of MDR and that slightly less than half of biofilm formers were MDR, these trends need to be monitored regularly among hospital personnel in Yaounde.
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon ; Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Cameroon.
Agnes Bedie
AB
Eyoh
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon.
Michel
M
Toukam
Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Cameroon.
Julius
J
Atashili
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon.
Charles
C
Fokunang
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon.
Hortense
H
Gonsu
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon ; Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Cameroon.
Emilia Enjema
EE
Lyonga
Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Henshaw
H
Mandi
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon ; Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Cameroon.
George
G
Ikomey
Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Cameroon.
Bertha
B
Mukwele
Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Cameroon.
Martha
M
Mesembe
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon ; Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Cameroon.
Marie Claire Okomo
MC
Assoumou
D018441:Biofilms; D002163:Cameroon; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*
Nosocomial; biofilm; medical personnel; multiple drug resistance; non-medical personnel