title: Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on retail meat in Iowa.
abstract: Several recent studies have indicated a high prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in retail-available meat. However, few studies have investigated MRSA in meat in the United States. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) on meat samples available at retail stores. Samples of fresh raw pork, chicken, beef, and turkey were purchased from 22 food stores throughout Iowa. S. aureus strains were isolated from 27 of 165 samples, giving an overall prevalence of 16.4%. Turkey, pork, chicken, and beef had individual S. aureus prevalence rates of 19.4%, 18.2%, 17.8%, and 6.9%, respectively. Two isolates of MRSA were isolated from pork, giving an overall prevalence of 1.2%. One MRSA isolate was positive for the PVL gene. Common spa types included t034, t337, t008, and t002. These results suggest that MRSA is present on low numbers of retail meat in Iowa.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, IA, USA.
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: Hanson
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Dressler
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Harper
authors: R P
authors: RP
authors: Scheibel
authors: S E
authors: SE
authors: Wardyn
authors: L K
authors: LK
authors: Roberts
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Kroeger
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D003132:Commerce; D005506:Food Contamination; D005516:Food Microbiology; D007484:Iowa; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013552:Swine; D014422:Turkeys
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents