ABSTRACT
Aims@#The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence, antibiogram and associated risk factors of Staphylococcus lugdunensis among healthy people. @*Methodology and results@#A total of 200 nasal samples were collected from participants. The swabs were cultured on mannitol salt agar and incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Isolates were diagnosed based on phenotypic, biochemical reactions and molecular methods. All identified isolates were screened for susceptibility to ten different antibiotics. Based on Gram stain and biochemical tests, 65 out of 200 (32.5%) were identified as S. lugdunensis. Twenty-nine of 65 (34.5%) were from males and 36 of 65 (31%) were from females (p=0.603). The highest prevalence was observed in the age group of 31-40 years (40%; 16/41) and the least prevalence rate was among the age group of ≥51 (15.4%; 2/13) (p=0.533). No statistically significant difference in the prevalence of S. lugdunensis was observed among people according to their family member size (p=0.472). Additionally, a slight difference in the carriage rate of S. lugdunensis was observed among the people who had Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infection (31%) and the people who had no previous infection with it (33.6%) (p=0.697). Also, no statistically significant difference (p=0.992) in the nasal carriage rate of S. lugdunensis was observed among smokers (32.5%; 12/37) and nonsmokers (32.5%; 53/163). All isolates were 100% susceptible to doxycycline, linezolid and chloramphenicol; 99% to oxacillin; 92% to ciprofloxacin; 91% to amikacin; 89% to nitrofurans and vancomycin; 83% to meropenem; and 75% to erythromycin. Also, 15.4% of the isolates were multidrug resistant. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#Results revealed that the prevalence of nasal S. lugdunensis was high among people with no specific associated risk factor. Also, a high rate of antibiotic resistance was observed with a high rate of multidrug resistance. Hence, education programs and improving hygienic measures are necessary to prevent the spread of multidrug resistance to S. lugdunensis. This can help as an effective measure to control bacterial infections
ABSTRACT
Aims@#This study aimed to isolate and identify different types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria from patients admitted to the general hospital of Duhok and Zakho cities. Isolates were identified based on standard microbiological and biochemical methods of bacterial identification.@*Methodology and results@#In total, 2922 urine, throat swab and sputum samples (1941 females and 981 males) were collected and investigated. The findings indicated that Staphylococcus pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus were prevalent among pathogens isolated from patients admitted to the general hospital of Zakho and Duhok cities, respectively. At Zakho hospital, the analysis of samples revealed that the rate of Streptococcus pneumonia isolation in urine samples was 15.83% for males and 22.92% for females. Regarding throat swabs, the rate was 5.43% for males and 4.87% for females. In terms of sputum, the rate of S. aureus isolation was 3.78% for males and 4.10% for females. On the other hand, in Duhok City, the results showed that the isolation rate of S. aureus was 20.25%, 3.58% and 4.83% in males for urine, sputum and throat swabs, respectively. The isolation rate of S. aureus 19.23%, 3.58% and 4.92% in females for urine, sputum and throat swabs, respectively. Moreover, the study highlighted the resistance of selected bacteria to different antibiotics, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most resistant and Escherichia coli being the most sensitive. @*Conclusion, significance and impact of study @#The study highlights the prevalence of S. pneumonia and S. aureus in Zakho and Duhok cities. Gender-based differences were observed in the S. pneumonia rates in urine samples of patients from Zakho hospital. The findings of this study revealed antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates, with P. aeruginosa being the most resistant and E. coli was the most sensitive. These findings can assist in forming more effective management strategies for patients with bacterial infections.