title: Identification of Staphylococcus aureus carrying the mecA gene in ready-to-eat food products sold in Brazil.
abstract: Since Staphylococcus aureus can cause several types of diseases, the development of antibiotic resistance poses an even greater threat to public health. S. aureus is known to possess the adaptive capability to promptly respond to antibiotics, making it resistant and increasingly difficult to treat; methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus are a major concern with regard to this species. Previous studies reported the identification of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in food, demonstrating that this can represent a source of S. aureus which may carry the mecA gene. Fifty-seven S. aureus isolates, previously obtained from different types of food, were screened by polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for the mecA gene, which mediates methicillin resistance. Five (9%) isolates showed the presence of mecA gene, demonstrating that food may contain microorganisms possessing resistance genes. This study emphasizes the need to include food as a possible source of S. aureus carrying mecA gene and the need to monitor these products. Moreover, this is the first report of the presence of mecA genes in S. aureus isolated from ready-to-eat food in Brazil and Latin America.
authors: Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Doutor Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo 01246-904, Brazil. cammybio02@yahoo.com.br
authors: Camila Fonseca
authors: CF
authors: Rizek
authors: Maria Helena
authors: MH
authors: Matté
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Dropa
authors: Elsa M
authors: EM
authors: Mamizuka
authors: Lara M
authors: LM
authors: de Almeida
authors: Nilton
authors: N
authors: Lincopan
authors: Glavur Rogério
authors: GR
authors: Matté
authors: Pedro Manuel Leal
authors: PM
authors: Germano
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001938:Brazil; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D057140:Fast Foods / Q000382:microbiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058889:Molecular Typing; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus