PRESENCE OF MRSA ON FOOD CONTACT ARTICLES AND FOOD HANDLERS FROM RESTAURANTS IN THAILANDKANNIPA TASANAPAK1, SIRIWAT KUCHAROENPHAIBUL, JINTANA WONGWIGKARN, RAPEE THUMMEEPAK, RATHANIN SENG, KUNSUDA NIMANUSSORNKUL AND SUTTHIRAT SITTHISAKAbstract Antibiotic resistance in bacteria in the non-hospital environment is a major concern to public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from restaurants. Swabs from 856 samples of food contact articles and food handlers were collected. The prevalence of S. aureus in these samples was 29.0 % (248/856). Among them, 44.0% (109/248) were found on food contact articles and 56.0% (139/248) was from food handlers. High prevalence of S. aureus was associated with chopping boards (29.0%) and food handlers (41.1%). MRSA was found in 3 (1.2%) of 248 isolates and all isolate contain mecA gene. Two MRSA-positive samples from food contact articles were SCCmec type V and one MRSA isolate from food handlers carried SCCmec type IV. Antibiotic susceptibilities of all MRSA isolates were determined. The result showed that all were resistant to cefoxitin, oxacillin, penicillin, ampicillin and erythromycin. We demonstrated the distribution of S. aureus and MRSA in the restaurant environment, highlighting that food contact articles and food handlers might be the source of contamination with food borne microbes that can cause disease in consumers.
Enter your contact information below to receive full paper.
|