Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Animals are a potential source of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This study evaluated the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of S. aureus isolates from breeders and livestock. METHODS: S. aureus strains were isolated from 180 livestock and 48 livestock farmers and identified using standard methods. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles and MRSA status were determined via disk diffusion susceptibility method. RESULTS: Among farm workers, 37.5% were colonized by S. aureus, with pig farm workers exhibiting the highest prevalence (56.2%), cattle herders (37.5%), and goat farm workers (18.7%). MRSA carriage among livestock isolates was 41.3%, while, six isolates from the poultry farm worker were MRSA, representing a carriage of 33.3%. Drug susceptibility profiles revealed differential patterns between isolates from breeders and animals. Gentamicin and levofloxacin demonstrated higher efficacy against farm worker isolates compared to animal isolates. Resistance to cefuroxime was higher among animal isolates (84.1%) as against the 66.7% for the breeders. CONCLUSION: The identification of multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains underscores the risk posed to humans in contact with animals. These findings stress the importance of monitoring and managing MRSA transmission between animals and humans.