Phenotypic Detection of Methicillin and Inducible Clindamycin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: An Effort to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance and Improve Patient Safety in Gombe, Nigeria

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to patient safety. Methicillin and inducible clindamycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus are important multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs). Timely reporting of MDROs is necessary for rational antibiotic prescription and in combating AMR. We present the prevalence and distribution of Methicillin and inducible clindamycin resistant (iCR) isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from Gombe Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 260 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical specimens in Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe (FTHG). Isolates identification was done using conventional biochemical methods. Methicillin resistance was detected by cefoxitin disc diffusion method while iCR isolates by erythromycin and clindamycin disc approximation test (D-test). Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in 178 (68.5%) isolates while 214 (82.3%) were iCR (D-test positive). Among the MRSA, 87.1% were also iCR while 72.4% of the iCR isolates were MRSA. There was significant association between MRSA and iCR (p = 0.03), MRSA and clindamycin resistance (p = 0.05) and MRSA and erythromycin resistance (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Prevalence of MDR Staphylococcus aureus is high in Gombe Nigeria. Antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) and good Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) are necessary in combating AMR and improving patient safety.