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Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR RS-PCR
Published on: November 4, 2016
Prevalence and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in food industry workers
G Caggiano1, A Dambrosio2, F Ioanna2
1Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Hygiene Section University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy.
Background:
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen spread not only in the hospital environment but also in the community and amongst livestock (LA-MRSA). LA-MRSA can be transmitted to humans that live in close contact with MRSA-colonized animals, and human colonization and/or infection has been reported worldwide, particularly among those involved with livestock farming. In this study the authors evaluated the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA among healthy carriers who worked in the food industry in Apulia, Southern Italy.
Methods:
Nasal swabs were taken from pasta and pork industry workers. All swab samples were subjected to tests for the isolation, identification and typing of S. aureus and MRSA strains. The identification of the strains was confirmed by molecular assessment using multiplex-PCR for the amplification of the nuc and mecA genes. The strains identified as MRSA were then subjected to a PCR protocol for the characterization of sequence type ST398.
Results:
In total 26.3% of examined nasal swabs were positive for S. aureus, 8.2% of them were methicillin resistant strains and 28.5% of MRSA isolates were characterized as ST398. The MRSA prevalence among pork factory workers was 3% , whereas among the pasta operators the prevalence was 11.5.
Conclusion:
The presence of S. aureus and MRSA among food workers represents a public health risk. Further, considering the dissemination of S. aureus and MRSA among non-nosocomial environments, including communities and livestock, careful surveillance and continuous monitoring of the emergence of MRSA is fundamental for safeguarding public health.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found in 8.2% of food industry workers in Italy. This highlights a public health risk, emphasizing the need for ongoing surveillance of MRSA in non-hospital settings.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant pathogen found in hospitals, communities, and livestock.
- Livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) can transmit to humans in close contact with colonized animals, leading to human colonization and infection globally.
- This study investigated S. aureus and MRSA prevalence in healthy food industry workers in Apulia, Southern Italy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA among healthy food industry workers.
- To assess the risk of MRSA transmission in a non-nosocomial setting.
- To contribute to the surveillance of MRSA in the food industry.
Main Methods:
- Nasal swabs were collected from workers in the pasta and pork industries.
- Standard microbiological methods were used for isolation and identification of S. aureus and MRSA.
- Molecular confirmation involved multiplex-PCR for nuc and mecA genes, with ST398 characterization for MRSA isolates.
Main Results:
- Overall, 26.3% of nasal swabs were positive for S. aureus.
- Methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) accounted for 8.2% of S. aureus isolates.
- Of the MRSA isolates, 28.5% were identified as sequence type ST398. MRSA prevalence was 3% in pork factory workers and 11.5% in pasta operators.
Conclusions:
- The presence of S. aureus and MRSA in food workers poses a public health risk.
- Dissemination of MRSA in community and livestock settings necessitates careful surveillance.
- Continuous monitoring of MRSA emergence is crucial for safeguarding public health.
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