Characterization and Evaluation of Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Common Clinical Specimens in a Central Hospital in Delta State, Nigeria

The emergence of coagulase negative Stapylococci as major pathogens reflects the increased use of implants in hospitals. Fifty-four coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated from a total of 242 clinical specimens at the Central Hospital, Kwale. All isolates were identified by standard bacteriological methods. Antibiotic sensitivity test was performed on all coagulase- negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates using the modified Kirby-Bauer method with 10 different antibiotics. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the commonest species (83.3%), while Staphylococcus saprophyticus was 16.7%, mainly from urine samples. Highest sensitivity was found with ofloxacin (81.5%), followed by ciprofloxacin (77.8%) and, highest resistance occurred with cotrimoxazole to which no isolate was sensitive.