Phenotypic Detection and Antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus from Poultry Processing Units in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

A cross sectional study was carried out in local poultry abattoirs at Monday and Gamboru markets Maiduguri, Nigeria to determine the occurrence of Staphylococcus aureus in rural chickens, slaughter environment and personnel. A total of 600 samples were collected and analyzed using standard bacteriological techniques. The samples were taken from featherless skin under the wings of the rural chickens, the dressing tables, containers, knives and from skin and nostrils of slaughter personnel. A sum of 135 (22.5%) S. aureus were isolated with significantly higher proportion from the utensils 75 (55.5%), 53 (39.3%)from skin of rural chickens while 3(2.2%) and 4(3.0%) were obtained from the skin and nostrils of the personnel respectively.The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the S. aureus isolates was tested against eight (8) antibiotics where high resistance was observed against tetracycline (68.1%), erythromycin (60.7%) and sulphamethoxazole (52%), while high susceptibility was observed in ciprofloxacin (100%), cephazolin (93.3%), gentamicin (86.7%) and chloramphenicol (77.8%). These results indicated a high frequency of isolation of S. aureus from processing utensils and could possibly be exchanged between rural chickens and personnel, either directly or through the contaminated environment. There is, therefore, the need for strict hygiene practices on the side of the personnel to minimize chances of cross contamination either from the rural chicken to the personnel or to the environment and vice vasa. There is also the need for creating awareness amongst the slaughter personnel on the potential occupational hazards associated with unhygienic practices.