ABSTRACT:
The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA) poses a major threat to public health, particularly in communities reliant on untreated or poorly managed water sources. This study is to determine the environmental and public health implications of multi-drug resistant staphylococcus aureus in portable water, with a view to understand its prevalence, resistance pattern and risk to human health in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total of 20 household water samples were collected from wells, rivers, ponds and pipe-borne sources using GPS coordinates. Standard microbiological methods, including cultural, biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, were employed to characterize the isolates. Six Staphylococcus species were recovered, with most showing resistance to cefixime, intermediate resistance to ceftaroline and erythromycin, while remaining susceptible to ofloxacin, gentamicin, tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. The findings highlight the presence of MDRSA in potable water sources, which may be linked to indiscriminate antibiotic use and poor sanitation practices. Although the limited sample size restricts broader generalization, the results underscore the urgent need for improved water treatment, sanitation infrastructure and public awareness to mitigate the risks of antimicrobial resistance transmission through water. Future studies with larger sample sizes and molecular characterization are recommended to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the resistance dynamics.