Comparative Study of the Effects of Plant Extracts in Traditional Medicine and Antibiotics on Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients in Hospital Medical Care in Ekiti State of Nigeria

Aims: Hospitalized patients are often immunocompromised as a result of invasive medical examinations and treatments. Of course, the tendency to do care practices for these patients and the hospital environment may facilitate the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms among them.

Materials & Methods: The study population and health status of volunteer patients were collected using a pretested questionnaire and patients information available in hospital files. A total of 102 samples were collected from patients’ wounds, noses, ears, and urine and microbiologically analyzed for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus species by plating on Manittol Salt agar. Colonies were purified by streaking on Nutrient agar, Gram stained, and tested for the presence of coagulase and the capability of growing on 3–5% salt concentration.

Findings: Male patients (51.3%) were more infected by S. aureus strains than female patients (48.7%). In terms of age, S. aureus infection rate was higher in patients within the age ranges from 17-50 years (56.32%) and lesser in patients within the age ranges from 51-100 years (43.68%). Genogram of the isolates indicated two major groups based on the genotypic responses to the antibiotics and extracts (This means the possible separation of the isolates into family groups according to their responses to antimicrobial agents). The prevalence of S. aureus colonization was higher in male patients.

Conclusions: Observed indices suggest that sex could be considered as a risk factor for S. aureus infection in patients. In addition to antibiotics, plants extracts could be used as an effective alternative for the treatment of S. aureus infections to control resistant S. aureus species.