Abstract

HERRERA A., Fanny  and  SANTOS B., Jesús. PRESENCE OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT Staphylococcus aureus INARTISAN DOUBLE CREAM CHEESE. rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2015, vol.18, n.1, pp.29-37. ISSN 0123-4226.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is regarded as a pathogen limited to nosocomial infections, which can also be transmitted by food. In this study 68 Staphylococcus coagulase positive isolates obtained from 100 samples of artisan double cream cheese elaborated in Pamplona (Colombia) were analyzed. The presence of mecA and coa genes and the corresponding genes to the main staphylococcal enterotoxins was determined by PCR. mecA gene was detected in 18,2% of S.aureus strains analyzed. All isolates carried the coa gene with very low heterogeneity; no strain showed the existence of the gene that encodes the toxin 1 of the toxic shock syndrome; The enterotoxin B gene was detected in 42% of the MRSA strains. The presence of MRSA strains in this study should be considered a potential health risk for consumers, especially vulnerable sections of the population who are prone to get foodborne infections where this bacteria can be lethal. The implementation of measures to prevent the spread of MRSA by food to the population, with particular emphasis in the implementation of Good Hygienic Practices and in the supervision of the correct use of antibiotics is suggested.

Keywords : Enterotoxins; mecA; antibiotic resistance; dairy product.

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