Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Β-Lactamase –Producing Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Semen of Men with Fertility Problems at Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is known to severely compromise semen quality and sperm motility. The therapeutic challenge is compounded by the emergence of beta-lactamase-producing S. aureus strains, which confer resistance to first-line beta-lactam antibiotics, making effective treatment difficult and contributing to poor reproductive outcomes. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus producing beta-lactamase among males with fertility problems at Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri. Study Design: The study was a prospective hospital-based cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Fertility Clinic of Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri (FTHO) from May 2025 to October 2025. Methodology: A total of 48 confirmed Staphylococcus aureus isolates were obtained from 125 positive semen cultures from males attending the fertility clinic at FTHO. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and Staphylococcus aureus producing beta-lactamase was detected using the penicillin disc diffusion zone-edge test. Results: Thirty-three (68.8%) of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were beta-lactamase producers. All 33 (100%) Staphylococcus aureus isolates producing beta-lactamase were resistant to penicillin but susceptible to Vancomycin. Twenty (60.6%) were susceptible to Levofloxacin and Ceftriaxone, while 10 (30.3%) were susceptible to Gentamycin and Imipenem. Conclusion: Beta-lactamase positivity was high among the S. aureus isolates from these study participants. This finding reflects concerns about antimicrobial resistance and indicates the need for microbiological screening and susceptibility testing in this patient population to guide appropriate antibiotic therapy and reduce the risk of empirical treatment failure.