Sigudu TT, Oguttu JW, Qekwana DN. Prevalence of
Staphylococcus spp. from human specimens submitted to diagnostic laboratories in South Africa, 2012-2017.
S Afr J Infect Dis 2023;
38:477. [PMID:
36756240 PMCID:
PMC9900383 DOI:
10.4102/sajid.v38i1.477]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Although staphylococci are commensals of the skin and mucosa of humans and animals, they are also opportunistic pathogens. Some coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (CoNS), such as S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis, are reported to be zoonotic.
Objectives
The prevalence of coagulase positive (CoPS), CoNS and coagulase-variable Staphylococcus spp. isolated from human clinical cases in South Africa was investigated.
Method
Retrospective records of 404 217 diagnostic laboratory submissions from 2012 to 2017 were examined and analysed in terms of time, place and person.
Results
Of the 32 different species identified, CoPS were the most frequently isolated (74.7%), followed by CoNS (18.9%). Just over half (51.2%) of the Staphylococcus isolates were from males, while females contributed 44.8%. Patients aged 0-4 years contributed the most (21.5%) isolates, with the highest number coming from KwaZulu-Natal (32.8%). Urinary specimens accounted for 29.8% of the isolates reported. There was no variation in the number of Staphylococcus isolates reported in the autumn (25.2%), winter (25.2%), spring (25.1%) and summer (24.5%) seasons.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated the diversity of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from humans and the magnitude of infection, with the most predominant species being S. aureus and S. epidermidis.
Contribution
Although most isolates were CoPS, the isolation of CoNS seen in this study suggests a need to improve infection control measures in a South African context. More research is needed to investigate the determinants of the observed variations in the study.
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