Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus isolated from waste bin handles in the Tamale Metropolis and Tolon District

There has been an increased incidence of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> colonization on several fomites with implicated transmission and infection. <i>S. aureus</i> was predisposed to developing antibiotic resistance due to the rise in antimicrobial overuse and genetic mutation, which contributes to formation of methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i> (MRSA). MRSA is known to cause several illnessesin hospitals, and infection in the community. This study aims to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and MRSA on waste bin handles in the Tamale metropolis and Tolon district, Ghana. Hundred (100) swabs samples were taken from the handles of waste bins at Homes and streets in the Tamale metropolis and Tolon. Swab sampleswere inoculated and isolated on Baird Parker agar at 37°C for 24-48 hours, and further confirmed using Staph aureus plus latex agglutination assay. Disk diffusion method was employed for the antibiotic susceptibility testing using EUCAST guidelines. Isolates resistant to oxacillin were classified as Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (CA-MRSA). Fifty-six (56%) of samples were contaminated with <i>S. aureus</i>, of which 41% were MRSA isolates. Fifty (50%) of isolates were classified as Methicillin Susceptible <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MSSA). The percentage of S. aureus resistant to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin were 29, 38, 57, 68, 62, and 80% respectively. Waste bin handles serve as habitat for multidrug resistant <i>S. aureus</i>. This may lead to a high rate of CA-MRSA infection. Further study should be done to determine the prevalence of other pathogenic bacteria on waste bin handles.