Methicillin-resistant staphylococci among school children in Mariental, Namibia

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, while some strains are multi-drug and may produce disease-causing toxins. Drug often responsible for chronic, persistent recurrent infections, which pose a challenge healthcare practitioners. Our study aimed determine the prevalence of nasal MRSA methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) among school children in Mariental community, southern Namibia. This was cross-sectional District. Nasal specimens (swabs) were collected from 272 randomly selected learners aged 6–14 years attending area during months March, September October 2016. Isolation identification performed using standard microbiological methods. isolates identified by their resistance towards cefoxitin (30 µg) Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. Enterotoxin production detected with SET-RPLA toxin detection kit. S. isolated 48 (17.6%) MRCoNS only seven (2.6%). colonization significantly higher (P = 0.003) age group 11–14 than 6–10 years. Among 433 staphylococcal screened resistance, 51 (11.8%) (1.6%) MRCoNS. From isolates, 22 (43.1%) six enterotoxigenic. first report on The presence potentially virulent Mariental, Namibia, concern. Self-infection these bacteria poses various health risks children. It recommended that programmes improve current hygiene practices. Frequent handwashing can prevent disease spread wider community.