title: METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS FROM READY-TO-EAT FOODS IN A HOSPITAL CANTEEN, SOUTHERN THAILAND: VIRULENCE CHARACTERIZATION AND GENETIC RELATIONSHIP.
abstract: Due to the existence of sporadic cases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Songklanagarind Hospital, Songkhla, southern Thailand where a canteen is located in close vicinity, this study investigated the presence of MRSA, including mecA-carrying S. aureus (MCSA), contamination in 105 ready-to-eat (RTE) food samples sold in this canteen. Coagulase-negative MRSA (MR-CoN) and coagulase-negative MCSA (MCSA-CoN) contaminations were observed in various RTE foods with unriped-papaya salad having significantly highest incidence of MCSA-CoN contamination (p < 0.05). The majority of MCSA-CoN isolates were resistant to clindamycin and fusidic acid. Two MCSA-CoN strains PSU172 and PSU180 were subsequently shown to be MR-CoN. Staphy- lococcal enterotoxins (SEs)-carrying MCSA-CoN strain PSU109 was isolated from seasoned rice. The SE-carrying MCSA-CoN strain PSU109, MR-CoN strain PSU172 and MCSA-CoN strain PSU173 were able to survive in the acidic unriped-papaya salad sauce (pH 4.0-4.5) for up to 6 hours. Typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed 80% genetic relatedness among MCSA-CoN strains from RTE food and clinical strains. This study suggests the plausibility of RTE foods sold in a hospital canteen as vehicles of hospital-acquired MR-CoN and of MCSA-CoN.
authors.forename: Natthakul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bunnueang
authors.forename: Sutthiporn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kongpheng
authors.forename: Kamonnut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Singkhamanan
authors.forename: Phanvasri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saengsuwan
authors.forename: Pattamarat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rattanachuay
authors.forename: Sunisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dangsriwan
authors.forename: Pharanai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sukhumungoon
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D005521:Food Service, Hospital; D005517:Foodborne Diseases; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013785:Thailand; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004768:Enterotoxins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D008712:Methicillin