Cluster Analysis of Clinical, Food, and Handler Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Isolates Characterized by Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis

Abstract

Objectives: To identify and to characterize of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates collected from food (n=43), food handler (n=8), and clinical samples (n=15). Methods: Genotyping was applied for the purposes of epidemiological investigation and source tracking of these isolates. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed using the restriction endonucleases SmaI. Findings: PFGE analysis showed that pulse types of isolates from clinical samples differed that from food and food handler isolates. However, a similarity was observed between pulse types of isolates from food and food handlers, suggesting an epidemiological association between isolates from these two sources and that MRSA may be transmitted from food handlers to foods. Novelty : PFGE genotyping of MRSA isolates was useful, as a first study of its type in Iraq, for investigating epidemiological relatedness and even contaminated food sources. Keywords: Epidemiology; MRSA isolates; PFGE; SmaI