Isolation and Characterization of Staphylococcus Species from Clinical Samples Obtained from some Hospitals in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Staphylococci are group of bacteria frequently isolated as etiologic agents of various infectious diseases with Staphylococcus aureus being the most important human pathogen [1]. S. aureus has long been recognized as one of the most important bacteria that cause disease in humans. It is the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as abscesses (boils), furuncles and cellulitis. Although most Staphylococcal infections are not serious, S. aureus can cause serious infections such as blood stream infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections [2]. S. aureus can also cause serious infections such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs) or bacteremia (bloodstream infection), symptoms of these infections include: difficulty breathing, malaise, fever or chills [2]. In addition, two coagulase-negative staphylococcal species, S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus, are also recognized as important agents of human infections. S. epidermidis is associated with infections of indwelling devices, osteomyelitis, wound infections, peritoneal dialysis catheterassociated peritonitis, and nosocomial bacteremia [3]. S. saprophyticus is recognized primarily as a cause of acute urinary tract infections in young women [4]. Together, these two coagulase-negative species comprise the greater majority of the clinically significant coagulase-negative staphylococci recovered from human specimens [5]. Staphylococcus epidermidis is isolated prevalently from human epithelia and colonizes predominantly the axillae, head, and nares [6]. S. epidermidis belongs to the group of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), which is discriminated from coagulase-positive Staphylococci, such as S. aureus by its lack of the enzyme coagulase [7].