European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) IN STREET VENDED FOODS AND FOOD HANDLERS IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Giami L. K.*, Wachukwu C. K., Abbey S. D. and Nwokah, E.G.

ABSTRACT

The emergence of a genetically different MRSA strain more virulent than the hospital strains in the community termed community-associated (CA-MRSA) has raised pertinent questions about the possibility of its spread in the food chain and within the community through contaminated food and food handlers. In this study, the presence of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in 135 street vended foods and their handlers respectively was determined using polymerase chain reaction. A high proportion of S. aureus isolates in this study were resistant to Augmentin (81.5%), Zinnacef (67.0%) and Oxacillin (49.7%) while high sensitivity was observed in Gentamicin, Perfloxacin and Erythromycin, (86.2%) suggesting that these drugs may serve as treatment options in developing countries. MRSA was detected in isolates from food samples (6%) of Beef burger and food handlers (26%) of Beef burger, Meat pie, Doughnut and Cupcake by positive amplification of the mecA gene, representing an overall prevalence of 33%. The presence of MRSA in street foods and their handlers increases the risk of their transmission through the food chain and poses a public health threat to consumers because of the narrow range of therapeutic options available to clinicians for their treatment. This calls for stricter enforcement of public health laws and a focused educational and awareness campaign targeting sectors involved with street vended foods in Port Harcourt metropolis.

Keywords: Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Street vended foods, Food handlers, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA).