THE CO-EXISTENCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS NASAL CARRIAGE AND SARS COVID-19 ANTIBODIES AMONG APPARENTLY HEALTHY NIGERIAN STUDENTS POPULATION IN EKPOMA, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Okodua M. A., Unuabonah F. H., Eyaufe A. A. O.*, Oni I. V., Oni O. D. and Iserhienihien O.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the co-existence rate of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and SARS-CoV-2 virus among apparently healthy students of Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State. A total of 173 nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected and analyzed. Bacterial isolates were identified using Gram staining and biochemical tests, including catalase and coagulase tests, along with a diagnostic kit for total antibody to SARS-CoV-2 (ELISA). The prevalence of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus was 17.3%, SARS-CoV-2 was 65.9%, and co-infection of both was 9.8%. The highest co-existence rate was observed in the age range of 21-25 years, with 19.3% for Staphylococcus aureus and 62.5% for SARS-CoV-2. The study population comprised 109 females and 64 males, potentially contributing to the observed high prevalence rates. The results suggest that COVID-19 vaccination and outpatient treatment may be crucial in reducing hospital admissions and the risk of Staphylococcus aureus co-infection in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, SARS-CoV-2, co-existence, prevalence, nasal carriage.