Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus among Female Patients Attending Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Objectives: To isolate, identify and determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus among Female Patients attending Rivers State University Teaching Hospital in Port Harcourt using High Vaginal Swab samples. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on total of 103 female patients attending the outpatients department and Antenatal clinic of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. High Vaginal Swab samples were aseptically collected from 55 non-pregnant and 48 six weeks postpartum women. These were then analysed in the Microbiology Laboratory of the Hospital, following standard microbiological procedures. Questions on age, number of sexual partners, knowledge of vaginal infection, symptomatic case, History of previous infection and treatments was responded to by each participant through the completing of questionnaires. Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) was used for the isolation of the organism and their phenotypic traits were determined based on their cultural and biochemical characteristics. Results: The study revealed that 25 (24.3%) consisting of 20 (36.4%) non-pregnant women and 5 (10.4%) Postpartum women were positive for Staphylococcus aureus infection. The prevalence of S. aureus among different groups was statistically significant, (P= .002). The highest percentage of S. aureus isolation (36.4%) was found in non-pregnant population. Prevalence of S. aureus was found highest 10 (18.2%) in 21-25 age group among non-pregnant women and none in 26-30 age group among postpartum women. Data obtained from the questionnaires returned showed that 10 (40%) that tested positive for the organism were asymptomatic as at the time of sample collection, had history of previous reproductive tract infection and had previously undergone treatment.   Conclusion: The high rate of vaginal Staphylococcal colonisation observed and the positive correlation between Staphylococus aureus prevalence and age, Child delivery status as well as treatment of previous reproductive tract infection seen in the study suggests the need for awareness on the importance of personal hygiene, proper antibiotic usage and regular screening of females within reproductive age.