Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in staphylococci isolated from ready-to-eat meat products

Abstract

Prevalence of mecA, blaZ, tetO/K/M, ermA/B/C, aph, and vanA/B/C/D genes conferring resistance to oxacillin, penicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, and vancomycin was investigated in 65 staphylococcal isolates belonging to twelve species obtained from ready-to-eat porcine, bovine, and chicken products. All coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) and S. aureus isolates harbored at least one antibiotic resistance gene. None of the S. aureus possessed more than three genes, while 25% of the CNS isolates harbored at least four genes encoding resistance to clinically used antibiotics. In 15 CNS isolates the mecA gene was detected, while all S. aureus isolates were mecA-negative. We demonstrate that in ready-to-eat food the frequency of CNS harboring multiple antibiotic resistance genes is higher than that of multiple resistant S. aureus, meaning that food can be considered a reservoir of bacteria containing genes potentially contributing to the evolution of antibiotic resistance in staphylococci.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of antibiotic resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospital food

“…Johler et al (2011) [ 42 ] reported that prevalence of ermC , tetK and tetM antibiotic resistance genes among the S. aureus strains isolated from cases of food poisoning, milk and pork were 25, 4.87 and 0%, 50, 0 and 12.82 and 0%, 12.19, and 53.84%, respectively. Podkowik et al (2012) [ 43 ] reported that the prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes ( tetO , tetK and tetM ) and erythromycin resistance methylase gene ( ermA , ermB and ermC ) among the S. aureus strains isolated from ready to eat meat products were 44 and 60%, respectively.…”

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus in companion animals: a cross-sectional study

“…We found MRSH clonality associated with a narrow distribution within separate kennels. The zoonotic character of S. haemolyticus is known based on previous facts according its distribution among humans, animals and ready-to-eat meat products [ 12 , 28 ]. Our findings support this, particularly by the fact that the same strain has been found in both dog and dog owner.…”

Beta-lactamase detection in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolated from bovine mastitis

“…In many countries, CNS have become the most common mastitis-causing agents (Pyorala & Taponen 2009), and is proving to be as pathogenic as S. aureus, at least concerning the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes. Studies regarding detection of resistance genes including blaZ, showed that none of the S. aureus possessed more than three genes, whereas 25% of CNS isolates harbored, at least, four genes encoding resistance to antibiotics (Podkowik et al 2012).…”