Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base Research Articles

An emerging zoonosis: molecular detection of multidrug-methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus from butchers' knives, livestock products and contact surfaces.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission in livestock, community, and healthcare settings poses a significant public health concern both locally and globally. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, molecular detection, and antibiogram of the MRSA strain in fresh beef, contact surfaces, and butchers' knives from the four major abattoirs (Karu, Gwagwalada, Deidei, and Kubwa) located in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to collect 400 swab samples from butchers' knives (132), fresh beef (136), and contact surfaces (132). Presumptive colonies on mannitol salt agar were subjected to culture, isolation, and biotyping. The antibiogram was carried out via a Kirby-Bauer disk containing eight antibiotics. MRSA was phenotypically confirmed by oxacillin-resistant screening agar base (ORSAB) and genotypically by PCR to detect the presence of the mecA gene. Out of the 400 samples, 47.24% of fresh beef, 37% of contact surfaces, and 64.33% of butchers' knife swabs were Staphylococcus aureus positive. Thirty-two Staphylococcus aureus-positive isolates were confirmed to be MRSA, 50% fresh beef, 28.12% contact surfaces, and 21.87% butcher's knife swabs. MRSA isolates displayed multidrug-resistant traits, with a high resistance of 90.62% against cloxacillin, and a highest susceptibility of 100% to co-trimaxole. The antibiogram showed MRSA strains to be multidrug resistant. Molecular characterisation of the MRSA detected the presence of the mecA gene at a band size of 163bp in all isolates. Strict hygiene of butchers, and working equipment in meat processing and marketing should be of top priority.

Kinship analysis of mecA gene of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from milk and risk factors from the farmers in Blitar, Indonesia.

There are numerous reports of subclinical mastitis cases in Blitar, which is consistent with the region's high milk production and dairy cattle population. Staphylococcus aureus, which is often the cause of mastitis cases, is widely known because of its multidrug-resistant properties and resistance to β-lactam antibiotic class, especially the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains. This study aimed to molecular detection and sequence analysis of the mecA gene in milk and farmer's hand swabs to show that dairy cattle are reservoirs of MRSA strains. A total of 113 milk samples and 39 farmers' hand swab samples were collected from a dairy farm for the isolation of S. aureus using Mannitol salt agar. The recovered isolates were further characterized using standard microbiological techniques. Isolates confirmed as S. aureus were tested for sensitivity to antibiotics. Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base testing was used to confirm the presence of MRSA, whereas the mecA gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. A total of 101 samples were confirmed to be S. aureus. There were 2 S. aureus isolates that were multidrug-resistant and 14 S. aureus isolates that were MRSA. The mecA gene was detected in 4/14 (28.6%) phenotypically identified MRSA isolates. Kinship analysis showed identical results between mecA from milk and farmers' hand swabs. No visible nucleotide variation was observed in the two mecA sequences of isolates from Blitar, East Java. The spread of MRSA is a serious problem because the risk of zoonotic transmission can occur not only to people who are close to livestock in the workplace, such as dairy farm workers but also to the wider community through the food chain.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolation and mecA Gene Detection from Milk and Farmer Hand Swab in Tulungagung, Indonesia

Staphylococcus aureus is a harmful bacterium that often contaminates milk; hence it is believed to become a severe health risk for humans . S. aureus resistant to β‑lactam drugs can be termed methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Dairy farms have a high incidence of MRSA infections due to the repeated use of the same medicines on dairy cows and the physical contact between farmers and cows during milking. This study looked for MRSA in dairy cow milk and farmer hand swabs in Tulungagung, Indonesia. Using oxacillin and cefoxitin diffusion disks, phenotypic detection approaches were evaluated, then transferred to the Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB) test and genotypically verified using PCR to find the mec A gene encoding MRSA. One hundred ten dairy cow milk samples and 45 farmer's hand swabs were collected from Tulungagung, East Java, Indonesia. Mannitol salt agar (MSA) was used for cultivation and purification. The disk-diffusion test used oxacillin and cefoxitin to identify S. aureus resistance. Oxacillin and cefoxitin-resistant S. aureus isolates were tested for MRSA using ORSAB. In addition, MRSA isolates were PCR-tested for the mec A gene. S. aureus was found in 110 (70.97%) of 155 isolates. Of the total 110 isolates of S. aureus , 16 (14.54%) and 39 (35.45%) were known to be resistant to Cefoxitin and Oxacillin, respectively. When tested with ORSAB, 23 isolates from 55 resistant isolates showed positive results for MRSA. Dairy milk was the source of most MRSA which is 15 isolates, while hand swabs only carried 8 isolates. However, PCR analysis only found mec A gene in two isolates. According to this study, many MRSA isolates were found from dairy farms in Tulungagung, Indonesia, but only a few have the mecA gene.

Evaluation of Cefoxitin Disc Diffusion and Chromogenic Agar in the Detection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has a worldwide distribution and is an important cause of clinical and epidemiological problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of some phenotypic methods for the detection of methicillin resistant S. aureus in clinical laboratories. The study is cross sectional. A total of 93 S. aureus isolates were tested using cefoxitin disk diffusion (CDD) and oxacillin resistance screening agar base (ORSAB) with reference to mecA gene PCR. Of the 93 isolates, CDD test showed 34 were MRSA, while ORSAB recorded 42. MecA gene was detected by PCR in 34 of the isolates. The CDD showed 97.1% sensitivity and 98.3% specificity and therefore superior to ORSAB with sensitivity 97.1% and specificity 84.7%. The cefoxitin disk test required no special test conditions and can improve the reliability of routine tests for the detection of MRSA. CDD test can thus be used as a cheap and reliable alternative to PCR for the detection of MRSA in resources limited settings.

Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug resistance isolated from cats in animal clinic at Sidoarjo District, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Waruwu YKK, Khairullah AR, Effendi MH, Lukiswanto BS, Afnani DA, Kurniawan SC, Silaen OSM, Riwu KHP, Widodo A, Ramandinianto SC. 2023. Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug resistance isolated from cats in animal clinic at Sidoarjo District, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 106-111. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the name given to the strain of bacteria that is multidrug-resistant (MDR) and resistant to ?-lactam antibiotics. Comparatively to other livestock, companion animals have been highlighted more often as potential MRSA reservoirs. This study looked for MDR and cat-derived MRSA strains in Sidoarjo. One hundred cats with nasal swabs were accessed, along with the veterinary hospital and other clinics. Samples were collected using a sterile cotton swab and buffered peptone water as the transport medium, and then identified using a microbiological standard operating procedure. On five different antibiotic discs, the Kirby-Bauer diffusion method was used to determine the S. aureus antibiotic resistance profile. As a confirmatory test for MRSA, S. aureus isolates that were resistant to cefoxitin continued to grow on Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB). Out of the seven MRSA isolates that were assumed to be MRSA, four of the seven MRSA isolates were confirmed to be MDR S. aureus. Humans and companion animals can both act as reservoirs for the recirculation of MRSA strains within the same household because cat nasal swabs resemble nosocomial MRSA and because both are more likely to get colonized than infected. It illustrated how cats might be a health risk to the public and acted as a cautionary tale about the inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Molecular detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from different foodstuffs in Egypt.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is a major public health problem. Therefore, this study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of MRSA in various food products. A total number of 204 food samples including raw milk (n = 30), cheese (n = 60), chicken (n = 25), beef (n = 24) and fish (n = 65) were collected from August to November of 2021 within different localities in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, the northern region of Egypt. All samples were assessed through a series of bacteriological and biochemical techniques to identify MRSA. Out of 204 samples, 52(25.49%) isolates were presumptively identified as MRSA on oxacillin resistance screening agar base media. Of these 52 isolates, 17(32.69%) were characterized as coagulase-positive. For the molecular confirmation of MRSA, all isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction assays to detect mecA and mecC. In addition, mecA was identified in all the isolates (100%), whereas, none was positive for mecC. Therefore, based on the detection of mecA, the overall occurrence rate of MRSA among the samples was 8.33%. The isolates were also subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Cefoxitin, cefuroxime, oxacillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were completely resistant (100%) to the isolates, however, susceptible to vancomycin and ciprofloxacin. Raw milk had the highest prevalence of MRSA (13.30%), followed by chicken (12.00%), fish (9.20%), cheese (5.00%) and beef (4.20%). Due tothe possibility of transmission of these strains to humans, the high prevalence of MRSA in various foodstuffs in Egypt poses a potential public health risk.

Profile of Multidrug Resistance and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from cats in Surabaya, Indonesia

Abstract. Afnani DA, Fatih N, Effendi MH, Tyasningsih W, Kairullah AR, Kurniawan SC, Silaen OSM, Ramandianto SC, Widodo A, Hendriana K, Riwu KHP. 2022. Profile of Multidrug Resistance and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from cats in Surabaya, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 5703-5709. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the name given to Staphylococcus aureus that has multidrug-resistance (MDR) characteristics and is resistant to ?-lactam drugs. Compared to other livestock, companion animals have been mentioned as potential MRSA reservoirs more frequently. This study aimed to identify MDR and detects MRSA strains from cats in Surabaya. A total of 150 nasal swab of cats were taken from several clinics and veterinary hospital. Samples were swabbed using Amies Medium Transport then identified using microbiological standard method. Kirby-Bauer diffusion method was performed for S. aureus antibiotic resistance profile on five different antibiotic discs. As a confirmatory test for MRSA, S. aureus isolates that were resistant to cefoxitin continued to grow on Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB). The findings of the isolation and identification and process revealed 18 (12%) S. aureus isolates. The antibiotic resistance test revealed 3 (2%) MDR S. aureus isolates and 4 (2.6%) MDR S. aureus isolates that were ORSAB positive. It has been discovered that there are MDR and MRSA S. aureus isolates. It could be used as an indicator of irrational usage of antibiotics and it explained that cats could be source of infection to public health.

Detection of mecA gene and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from milk and risk factors from farms in Probolinggo, Indonesia.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found in dairy cows and is a source of contamination in milk. S. aureus that are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (especially cefoxitin) are referred to as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The spread of MRSA cannot be separated from sanitation management during milking; it can originate from milk collected from the udder or from the hands of farmers during the milking process. The purpose of this study was to examine the level of MRSA contamination in dairy cow's milk and farmer's hand. Methods: A total of 109 samples of dairy cow's milk and 41 samples of farmer's hand swabs were collected at a dairy farm in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia. Samples were cultured and purified using mannitol salt agar (MSA). The profile of S. aureus resistance was established by disk diffusion test using a disk of beta-lactam antibiotics, namely oxacillin and cefoxitin. Results: The S. aureus isolates that were resistant to oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotics were then tested for oxacillin resistance screening agar base (ORSAB) as a confirmation test for MRSA identity. S. aureus isolates suspected to be MRSA were then tested genotypically by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect the presence of the mecA gene. The results of the isolation and identification found 80 isolates (53.33%) of S. aureus. The results of the resistance test found that 42 isolates (15%) of S. aureus were resistant to oxacillin and 10 isolates (12.5%) were resistant to cefoxitin. The ORSAB test found as many as 20 isolates (47.62%) were positive for MRSA. In PCR testing to detect the presence of the mecA gene, three isolates (30%) were positive for the mecA gene. Conclusions: This study shows that several S. aureus isolates were MRSA and had the gene encoding mecA in dairy farms.

Comparison of Different Phenotypic Methods of Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objectives: The objective of the current study was to compare the diagnostic methods of Oxacillin Disk Diffusion, Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion, Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base, and CHROM Agar MRSA with the gold-standard method of Polymerase Chain Reaction for detection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
 Methods: Two hundred pus samples were included in the study from which Staphylococcus strains were evaluated. The isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were subjected to the Oxacillin Disk Diffusion test, Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion test, Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base, and CHROM Agar MRSA to detect MRSA with PCR, the reference standard. The diagnostic techniques were compared to their sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values.
 Results: The sensitivity of the Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion test was 100%, followed by CHROM Agar MRSA at 96.7%, Oxacillin Disk Diffusion at 90%, and Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base at 86.7%. Most specific was the Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion test (99.4%), followed by Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (98.8%), CHROM Agar MRSA (97.7%), and the least specific was the Oxacillin Disk Diffusion test (96.5%).
 Conclusion: The Cefoxitin Disk Diffusion test was the most sensitive and specific of all four methods, next to the Polymerase Chain Reaction. However, future multicentric studies are recommended to test this method across all prevalent centers of methicillin resistance. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 12(3):116-126.

Detection of mecA gene and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from milk and risk factors from farms in Probolinggo, Indonesia.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found in dairy cows and is a source of contamination in milk. S. aureus that are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (especially cefoxitin) are referred to as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The spread of MRSA cannot be separated from sanitation management during milking; it can originate from milk collected from the udder or from the hands of farmers during the milking process. The purpose of this study was to examine the level of MRSA contamination in dairy cow's milk and farmer's hand. Methods: A total of 109 samples of dairy cow's milk and 41 samples of farmer's hand swabs were collected at a dairy farm in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia. Samples were cultured and purified using mannitol salt agar (MSA). The profile of S. aureus resistance was established by disk diffusion test using a disk of beta-lactam antibiotics, namely oxacillin and cefoxitin. Results: The S. aureus isolates that were resistant to oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotics were then tested for oxacillin resistance screening agar base (ORSAB) as a confirmation test for MRSA identity. S. aureus isolates suspected to be MRSA were then tested genotypically by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect the presence of the mecA gene. The results of the isolation and identification found 80 isolates (53.33%) of S. aureus. The results of the resistance test found that 42 isolates (15%) of S. aureus were resistant to oxacillin and 10 isolates (12.5%) were resistant to cefoxitin. The ORSAB test found as many as 20 isolates (47.62%) were positive for MRSA. In PCR testing to detect the presence of the mecA gene, three isolates (30%) were positive for the mecA gene. Conclusions: This study shows that several S. aureus isolates were MRSA and had the gene encoding mecA in dairy farms.

Detection of mecA gene and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from milk and risk factors from farms in Probolinggo, Indonesia.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found in dairy cows and is a source of contamination in milk. S. aureus that are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics are referred to as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The spread of MRSA cannot be separated from sanitation management during milking; it can originate from milk collected from the udder or from the hands of farmers during the milking process. The purpose of this study was to examine the level of MRSA contamination in dairy cow's milk and farmer's hand swabs. Methods: A total of 109 samples of dairy cow's milk and 41 samples of farmers' hand swabs were collected at a dairy farm in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia. Samples were cultured and purified using mannitol salt agar (MSA). The profile of S. aureus resistance was established by disk diffusion test using a disk of beta-lactam antibiotics, namely oxacillin and cefoxitin. Results: The S. aureus isolates that were resistant to oxacillin and cefoxitin antibiotics were then tested for oxacillin resistance screening agar base (ORSAB) as a confirmation test for MRSA identity. S. aureus isolates suspected to be MRSA were then tested genotypically by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect the presence of the mecA gene. The results of the isolation and identification found 80 isolates (53.33%) of S. aureus. The results of the resistance test found that 42 isolates (15%) of S. aureus were resistant to oxacillin and 10 isolates (12.5%) were resistant to cefoxitin. The ORSAB test found as many as 20 isolates (47.62%) were positive for MRSA. In PCR testing to detect the presence of the mecA gene, three isolates (30%) were positive for the mecA gene. Conclusions: This study shows that several S. aureus isolates were MRSA and had the gene encoding mecA in dairy farms.

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Clinical Specimens in Anyigba, Nigeria

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major public health concern, and it is responsible for both hospital and community associated infections globally. In this study, we aimed at determining the prevalence and pattern of resistance of MRSA to commonly used antibiotics in Anyigba, Nigeria. This was a hospital based, cross-sectional study conducted between August 2017 and February 2018. One hundred and fifty routine clinical specimens were collected from selected health facilities in Anyigba for laboratory analyses. Standard laboratory methods were employed in the identification of the isolates. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was confirmed using Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB) supplemented with 2g/l of Oxacillin. Screening to determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of all confirmed MRSA isolates was by disc diffusion method. A total of 124 (82.7%) isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were recovered from clinical samples obtained. Of these isolates, 28 (22.6%) were methicillin resistant. The percentage distribution rate of MRSA was highest (50.0%) in urine samples. Majority of these isolates were resistant to at least four of the six antibiotics tested. Most of the isolates recovered from urine samples were resistant to Gentamicin (92.9%), Amoxicillin (100.0%) and Cotrimoxazole (85.7%). Our study showed a significant presence of MRSA isolates in the clinical specimens collected, with a relatively high rate to gentamicin, Amoxicillin and Cotrimoxazole antibiotics. This study highlights the need for monitoring of antimicrobial use considering the lack of innovation in the development of new antimicrobials which lessens efforts at combating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Profile of Multidrug Resistance and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on dairy cows and risk factors from farmer

Abstract. Khairullah AR, Sudjarwo SA, Effendi MH, Ramandininto SC, Gelolodo MA, Widodo A, Riwu KHP, Kurniawati DA, Rehman S. 2022. Profile of Multidrug Resistance and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on dairy cows and risk factors from farmer. Biodiversitas 23: 2853-2858. Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccus that causes mastitis and is one of the most widespread pathogenic bacteria in dairy farming. These bacteria can quickly develop into antibiotic-resistant strains due to inappropriate antibiotic administration. Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that have Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) properties can be known as Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) if these bacteria are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics. The high number of MDR and MRSA contamination in dairy farms as a result of excessive administration of antibiotics in the treatment of dairy cows and the spread of these bacteria cannot be separated from the sanitation management at the time of milking, it can be from milk that is milked from the udder and it can also be from the hands of farmers during the milking process. This study tests antibiotic resistance and detects Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains sourced from milk and hand swabs of farmers in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia. A total of 109 dairy cow’s milk samples and 41 samples of farmers’ hand swabs were taken from each farm. Samples were cultured and purified using Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA). Staphylococcus aureus resistance profile was performed by disk diffusion test using antibiotic disks such as Oxacillin, Cefoxitin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin, and Gentamicin. Staphylococcus aureus isolates that were resistant to Oxacillin and Cefoxitin antibiotics were then tested for Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB) as a confirmation test for Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The results of the isolation and identification found 80 (53.33%) S. aureus isolates, then the results of the resistance test found 8 (10%) S. aureus isolates that were Multidrug-Resistant (MDR), and in the Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB) test there were 3 isolates of S. aureus MDR were ORSAB positive. It can be found that there are several S. aureus isolates that are Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in dairy farms. The S. aureus that is MDR and MRSA can be spread to the community and will endanger public health. Thus, prevention and control measures are needed to suppress the spread of S. aureus infection on a dairy farm in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia.

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from sheep and humans in Veterinary Hospital Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Background and Aim:Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an important opportunistic pathogen, is a Gram-positive coccus known to be resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. Its virulence depends on a large range of factors, mainly extracellular proteins, such as enzymes and exotoxins, that contribute to causing a wide range of diseases in human and animal species. The major reasons for the success of this pathogen are its great variability, which enables it to occur and thrive at different periods and places with diverse clonal types and antibiotic resistance patterns within regions and countries. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus bring about serious problems in the general population (humans and animals). Infections with these pathogens can be devastating, particularly for the very young, adults and immunocompromised patients in both humans and animals. This study aimed to determine the presence of MRSA in both apparently healthy and sick sheep brought to the veterinary hospital as well as veterinary staff and students on clinical attachment in the hospital.Materials and Methods:A total of 200 nasal swab samples were collected aseptically from sheep and humans (100 each) for the isolation of MRSA. The samples were processed by appropriately transporting them to the laboratory, then propagated in nutrient broth at 37°C for 24 h followed by subculturing on mannitol salt agar at 37°C for 24 h, to identify S. aureus. This was followed by biochemical tests (catalase and coagulase tests) and Gram staining. MRSA was isolated using Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guideline and confirmed by plating onto Oxacillin (OX) Resistance Screening Agar Base agar. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the MRSA isolates was determined using the disk diffusion method against 12 commonly used antimicrobial agents.Results:The total rate of nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA was found to be 51% and 43% in sheep and humans, respectively. The MRSA prevalence in male and female sheep was 18% and 8%, while 9% and 8% were for male and female human samples, respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed 100% resistance to OX, cefoxitin, oxytetracycline, cephazolin, and penicillin-G (Pen) by MRSA isolates from humans. Conversely, there was 100% susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and gentamicin; for linezolid (LZD), it was 87.5%, norfloxacin (NOR) (71%), and erythromycin (ERY) (50%) susceptibility was recorded. The MRSA isolates from sheep recorded 100% resistance to the same set of drugs used for human MRSA isolates and were equally 100% susceptible to gentamicin, imipenem, LZD, ciprofloxacin, NOR (92%), and ERY (50%).Conclusion:This study determined the presence of MRSA in sheep and humans from the Veterinary Hospital, Maiduguri. It appears that certain drugs such as ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and gentamicin will continue to remain effective against MRSA associated with humans and sheep. Reasons for the observed patterns of resistance must be explored to reduce the burdens of MRSA resistance. Furthermore, the present study did not confirm the MRSA resistance genes such as mecA and spa typing to ascertain the polymorphism in the X-region using appropriate molecular techniques. Hence more studies need to be conducted to elucidate these findings using robust techniques.

Occurrence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in Cats and Man

This study was carried out to isolate Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from cats as well as human. Nasal, ear and skin swabs were collected from 50 cats either diseased or apparently healthy animals as well as 50 swabs were obtained from diseased and apparently healthy individuals with or without cats’ contact. Swabs were streaked on Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (a selective medium for detection of MRSA). It was found that the overall rate of isolation of MRSA from cats was 20% with significant association between the rates of isolation from diseased cats (21.4%) and apparently healthy cats (18.4%). In addition, the highest rate of isolation was recorded in the age group from 1 to 2 years (29.4%) followed by the age group > 2 years (26.7%) and finally, the age group ≤ 1 year (5.6%) with non-significant association between the rates of isolation. On the other side, the overall rate of isolation of MRSA from human was 32% with significant association between the rates of isolation from diseased individuals (28.6%) and apparently healthy individuals (40%). Moreover, individuals exceed 60 years old showed the highest rate (40.9%) followed by those of the age group extend from 30 to 60 years (30.8%) and lastly the age group less than 30 years old (20%) with significant association between the rates of isolation. Molecular characterization of MRSA strains recovered (n=26) from cats and human for detection of nuc and mecA genes by PCR was performed. It was recorded that nuc gene was detected in 65.4% of isolates while mecA gene was detected in 80.8% of the recovered isolates. Finally, it was found that the presence of human with animals in the same community and in close contact increases the opportunity of zoonotic transmission of MRSA between cats, humans, and the environment.

Dressed chicken as potential vehicle for spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Aim:To evaluate the role of dressed chicken in the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Sokoto, Nigeria.Materials & methods:190 chicken carcass rinsates were subjected to culture and biochemical analyses to isolate and identify MRSA. PCR was used to amplify mecA gene that is responsible for methicillin resistance.Results & conclusion:Culture and molecular analysis showed 19.5% (37/190) of the rinse had MRSA on oxacillin-resistance screening agar base (ORSAB) with 7.9% (15/190) possessing the mecA gene. Significant association (p = 0.044) exist between local-chicken and presence of MRSA, being twice more likely to have MRSA compared to exotic-chickens (odds ratio [OR] = 2.132). Results indicate possible role of dressed-chicken in the spread of MRSA. Authorities should regulate the sale and use of antibiotics by farmers, and enhance hygienic practices at slaughterhouses.

Molecular detection of chloramphenicol-florfenicol resistance (cfr) genes among linezolid resistant MRSA isolates in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Objective: we investigated previous literatures for documentation of the trend in Sokoto, Nigeria and found none. We deemed it fit to determine the frequency of linezolid resistance mediated by cfr gene among MRSA isolates from Sokoto State-owned hospitals. Methods: Bacterial species identification was carried out with Microgen™ Staph-ID System kit (Microgen, Surrey, UK). Disc agar diffusion method (Modified Kirby-Bauer’s) following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI 2018) guidelines was used in antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The results were interpreted and managed using WHONET 5.6 software (WHO, Switzerland). Oxacillin resistant screening agar base (ORSAB) culture was used to determine phenotypic methicillin resistance. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to determine the presence of cfr-gene. Results: A total of 81 S. aureus isolates were phenotypically identified. Of this number, 46.91% (38/81) were MRSA; Healthcare workers (39.5%), Outpatient (28.9%), In patient (21%), Security men and Cleaners (5.3% each). Importantly linezolid resistance rate among the MRSA isolates was 44.7%. Analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility profile also showed a multiple antibiotics resistance burden of MDR (5.9%), possible XDR (47.1%), XDR (41.1%) and PDR (5.9%) amongst LR-MRSA. About 52.9% (9/17) of LR-MRSA harbored the cfr gene. Conclusions: This is the first report to document cfr gene in LR-MRSA strains in Sokoto. The cfr gene was found among the studied LR-MRSA strains and if cfr-mediated linezolid resistance is not properly checked, its phenotypic expression may result in an outbreak of multiple antibiotic resistant strains.

First mecC and mecA Positive Livestock-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mecC MRSA/LA-MRSA) from Dairy Cattle in Malaysia.

Livestock associated Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (LA-MRSA) was reported to be zoonotic and may transmit to farmers and veterinarians. The objectives of this study were to investigate the occurrence of LA-MRSA from dairy cattle and to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolates. A total of 63 milk and 32 nasal swab samples were randomly collected from dairy cattle. The samples were processed to isolate S. aureus, MRSA and LA-MRSA using both phenotypic and molecular methods using PCR. The confirmed S. aureus isolates were cultured on oxacillin resistant screening agar base (ORSAB) to detect MRSA and the isolates were further confirmed by PCR targeting the mecA gene. Detection of the novel mecA gene, mecC gene was conducted by PCR amplification. The antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted using disc diffusion method. Results revealed 17/95 (17.89%) and 15/95 (15.79%) were positive for mecA and mecC genes respectively. Out of the 15 mecC positive isolates, 12 were positive for both mecA and mecC. The MRSA isolates showed multidrug resistance. The findings showed high prevalence of mecC-positive LA-MRSA in Malaysia and highlight the public health risks to people that may come in contact with the carrier animals or those who may consume unpasteurized milk products from these animals.

Phenotypic detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in village chickens from poultry markets in Maiduguri, Nigeria.

Objective:The study was carried out to detect the carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and their antimicrobial susceptibilities in village chickens sold at Maiduguri poultry markets using phenotypic characterization.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study where 120 samples comprised 50% each of Nasal and cloacal swabs, were, respectively, collected from live village chickens sold at Maiduguri poultry markets and examined for the presence MRSA based on bacterial culture, biochemical characteristics, growth on oxacillin resistant screening agar base, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests.Results:The study revealed an overall occurrence of 38.33% S. aureus and 32.60% MRSA, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out on MRSA positive isolates against seven antimicrobials. All the isolates (100%) exhibited resistance against cefoxitin, whereas the least antimicrobial resistance was recorded against erythromycin and streptomycin each with 26.6%, respectively. In the same way, the highest antibiotic susceptibility in this study was observed against erythromycin (60%) and least susceptibility was against vancomycin and streptomycin with 20% each. A varying intermediate antibiotic susceptibility ranging from 13.33% to 53.33% was observed. Multiple-drug resistance patterns were exhibited by MRSA isolates from this study with 73.3% of the isolates exhibiting resistance to two or more antibiotics.Conclusion:This study has shown the carriage of MRSA by village chickens which calls for serious public health concern and concludes that these birds might have acquired these pathogens from the environment or infected humans since they normally receive no less medical attention.

Phenotypic and genotypic detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hunting dogs in Maiduguri metropolitan, Borno State, Nigeria.

Aim:To determine the presence of MRSA in hunting dogs in Maiduguri metropolitan.Materials and Methods:Phenotypic methods used includes microscopic technique, colony morphology study, catalase-coagulase tests, and the use of mannitol salt agar test, oxacillin resistance screening agar base, and antibiotic susceptibility testing methods. Genotypic approach was used for deoxyribonucleic acid extraction, and the presence of nuc and mecA gene was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.Results:Examination of 416 swab samples from nasal and perineal region of dogs revealed a total of 79.5% of S. aureus, where 62.5% of the isolates were MRSA. Molecular analysis revealed that 7nuc genes specific for S. aureus from 20 presumptive MRSA assay were all mecA PCR negative. The isolates were sensitive to gentamicin and ciprofloxacin but proved resistant to cefoxitin and oxacillin.Conclusion:High isolation rate of MRSA was found in hunting dogs. Significant level (p<0.05) of MRSA was isolated in the nasal cavity of hunting dogs than its perineum. Only nuc genes were detected from the MRSA isolates.