Influence of Seasonal and Weather Variation on the Incidence of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci Isolates Among Nigerians with Boil Infections

Abstract

THE INFLUENCE of seasonal and weather variations on recovery of Staphylococcus aureus in patients having boil infections was investigated. Recovery of the organ ism from patients was found to be higher during the dry season when there was acute shortage of water and little or no rainfall. The results showed that as the rainy season begins, prevalence of coagulas-e positive Staphylococci from the boil infections reduced con siderably. The difference in recovery rate of the causa tive agent of boil was Statistically significant (P<0.001) between the dry and the rainy seasons. Therefore lower relative humidity coupled with higher temperature and shortage of water are the most important environmen tal factors predisposing patients to Staphylococci boil infections.