The role of food in the spread of the Methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are important human pathogen. It is present in a wide range of animal species (pigs, cows, sheep, and chickens) even in healthy animals. Identification of MRSA in foods has led to concerns about the role of livestock in the epidemiology of MRSA infections in human. This review focuses on the spread of MRSA in different types of food and its antimicrobial resistance to the most widely used antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine. The results of review indicates that livestock is major source of MRSA in humans and mainly transmitted to humans through contaminated food. The actual prevalence of MRSA in animals and food as well as impact to the human health is not well understood. It is clearly that MRSA is an important pathogen to veterinary medicine and human health which requires more and in-depth research to understand the hazard and take effective measures to limit it.