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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA

Published on: February 9, 2011

Prevalence and Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Animals, Retail Meats and Market

Ting-Yu Yang¹, Chong-Xiang Sun², Junjie Wang¹

¹College of Veterinary Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

|January 28, 2026

Abstract:

Staphylococcus aureus has been recognized as an important foodborne pathogen and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) can cause fatal infections worldwide. Of great concern is that MRSA have been found in animals and non-healthcare settings; however, knowledge about the prevalence and genetic characteristics of S. aureus, especially MRSA from animals, retail meats and market shared shopping vehicles in the same district, is limited. In this study, we collected 423 samples including handrail swabs (n = 226) of shopping trolleys and baskets from 18 supermarkets, retail meats (n = 137) and swine nasal swabs (n = 60) between 2018 and 2020 in China. S. aureus isolates were isolated and identified by PCR, and then the mecA was used to confirm the MRSA. The antibiotic resistance and virulence genes among S. aureus were also analyzed, followed by whole genome sequencing (WGS). S. aureus isolates were widely distributed in shared shopping vehicles (8.0%, 18/226), retail meats (14.6%, 20/137) and swine (18.3%, 11/60). In total, 49 S. aureus were obtained and 20 of the 49 isolates were MRSA. We firstly reported a high prevalence of MRSA in shared shopping vehicles (7.5%, 17/226), followed by raw meats (2.2%, 3/137), and 44.4% (8/18) of the 18 supermarkets possessed MRSA-positive shopping vehicles. All 20 MRSA isolates were SCCmec IVa MRSA clones. Enterotoxin genes (sea/seb) associated with S. aureus food poisoning were present in 45.0% of the 20 S. aureus isolates from retail meats and 25.0% of the 20 MRSA isolates carried enterotoxin genes. Retail meats in this study carried ST6-MRSA, a common ST type of S. aureus from food-poisoning outbreaks in China. WGS showed that the MRSA from meats harbored enterotoxin gene sea and immune evasion genes (sak and scn) associated with human infections, and were clustered with previously reported MRSA isolates from animals and humans. The MRSA isolates carrying multiple virulence genes from shopping vehicles were also clustered with previously reported MRSA isolates from humans and animals, suggesting that the exchange of MRSA isolates might occur among different niches. Our results highlighted the risk of retail meats and shared shopping vehicles in spreading antimicrobial-resistant pathogens including MRSA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the wide spread of MRSA in shared shopping vehicles in China.

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was prevalent in Chinese retail meats and shopping vehicles, posing a public health risk. This study highlights MRSA

Area of Science:

Foodborne Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance
Molecular Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases
Public Health Microbiology

Background:

Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is a significant foodborne pathogen and cause of fatal infections globally.
Limited data exists on the prevalence and genetic traits of S. aureus and MRSA in food products, animal sources, and public environments like shopping vehicles.
The presence of MRSA in non-healthcare settings raises concerns about community transmission and food safety.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence and genetic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus, particularly MRSA, in retail meats, swine, and shared shopping vehicles within a specific district in China.
To analyze the antibiotic resistance and virulence genes of S. aureus and MRSA isolates.
To determine the potential transmission routes and public health risks associated with MRSA in these environments.

Main Methods:

Collection of 423 samples (handrail swabs of shopping trolleys/baskets, retail meats, swine nasal swabs) from 2018-2020 in China.
Isolation and identification of S. aureus using PCR, with MRSA confirmed by the mecA gene.
Analysis of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, followed by whole genome sequencing (WGS) of MRSA isolates.

Main Results:

S. aureus was found in shopping vehicles (8.0%), retail meats (14.6%), and swine (18.3%).
Twenty of 49 S. aureus isolates were MRSA, with a high prevalence in shopping vehicles (7.5%) and raw meats (2.2%).
All MRSA isolates were SCCmec IVa clones; some carried enterotoxin and immune evasion genes, clustering with human and animal MRSA strains, indicating potential niche exchange.

Conclusions:

This study reports the widespread presence of MRSA in shared shopping vehicles in China for the first time.
Retail meats and shopping vehicles act as potential reservoirs and vehicles for spreading antimicrobial-resistant pathogens like MRSA.
Findings underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures to mitigate the public health risks associated with MRSA transmission across different environments.

Read full analysis

Keywords:

MRSA enterotoxin genes retail meats shared shopping vehicles

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