Occurrence of Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Vrsa) In Clinical and Community Isolates Within the University of Port Harcourt

Abstract

The decrease in the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating common infections has become a world-wide burden. In recent years there has been the presence of untreated strains of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriacae [1]. The increase in resistance is facilitated by interspecies gene transmission, lack of good sanitation and hygiene in the hospital and community thereby causing an increase in the frequency of global trade and disease transmission [2]. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of Staphyloccocal infection and they are responsible for different diseases such as skin infection, wound infections and toxin mediated diseases [3]. S. aureus is a major cause of infection in either hospitals or within communities across the world, this has made S. aureus develop resistance to commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents. They have the ability to acquire resistance to new antimicrobial agents. The first serious emergence of antibiotic resistant S. aureus occurred as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The strain expressed a modified penicillin-binding protein encoded by MecA gene. MRSA strains are currently a very significant health care problem.