Nasal carriage of methicilli-resistant staphylococcus aureus with reduced vancomycin susceptibility [mrsa-rvs] by healthy adults in Zaria, Nigeria.

Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected from anterior nares of fifty healthy adults in Zaria and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns determined. Seventy-two percent (72%) of the isolates were methicillin-resistant S. aureus, while 20% were methicillin-susceptible. The isolates were generally resistant to multiple antibiotics including chloramphenicol [78% resistance], penicillin [100% resistance], and tetracycline [66% resistance]. Vancomycin susceptibility studies revealed that 86% of the isolates were Vancomycin intermediate. There is a need to observe antibiotic use policies faithfully in order to prevent the spread of resistances.