A large collection of Staphylococcus aureus including a. 745 clinically significant isolates that were consecutively recovered from human infections during 2012–2013, b. 19 methicillin-susceptible (MSSA), randomly selected between 2006–2011 from our Staphylococcal Collection, c. 16 human colonizing isolates, and d. 10 strains from colonized animals was investigated for the presence and the molecular characteristics of CC398. The study was conducted in Thessaly, a rural region in Greece. The differentiation of livestock-associated clade from the human clade was based on canSNPs combined with the presence of the φ3 bacteriophage and the tetM, scn, sak, and chp genes. Among the 745 isolates, two MRSA (0.8% of total MRSA) and thirteen MSSA (2.65% of total MSSA) were found to belong to CC398, while, between MSSA of our Staphylococcal Collection, one CC398, isolated in 2010, was detected. One human individual, without prior contact with animals, was found to be colonized by a MSSA CC398. No CC398 was identified among the 10 S. aureus isolated from animals. Based on the molecular markers, the 17 CC398 strains were equally placed in the livestock-associated and in the human clades. This is the first report for the dissemination of S. aureus CC398 among humans in Greece.

Adipose tissue biopsies offer tissue samples that, upon analysis, may provide insightful overviews of mechanisms relating to metabolism and disease. To obtain subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies in the abdominal area, researchers and physicians use either a surgical or a needle-based technique. However, surgical subcutaneous fat biopsies can offer tissue samples that may provide a more comprehensive overview of the complexities of biological indices in white adipose tissue. Usually, a surgical adipose tissue biopsy includes a diathermy treatment for cauterizing blood vessels to prevent excessive bleeding. Nevertheless, side effects, such as flash fires and skin lesions in the tissue, have been reported after diathermy. Therefore, we aimed to standardize a surgical abdominal adipose tissue biopsy performed under local anesthesia using a non-diathermy method. We conducted 115 subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies in healthy men using a non-diathermy abdominal surgical biopsy method. Our results showed three cases of excessive post-operation bleeding out of 115 operations (2.61%).In conclusion, our standardized subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue surgical biopsy using a non-diathermy method can be safely applied to healthy men at the bedside, with minimal side effects.

During last decades CoNS and especially the methicillin-resistant (MRCoNS) ones have become important pathogens and their infections are usually associated with healthcare settings. CoNS are considered as source of antimicrobial resistance traits for other bacteria and thus the evaluation of their prevalence in the community contributes significantly to the risk assessment in relation to public health. The aim of the present study was the investigationof the nasal carriage and antimicrobial susceptibly of CoNS among healthy veterinary students. From 81 healthy students of the School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, 24 strains were isolated from 22 (27.16%) students. Of them 54% were identified as Staphylococcus haemolyticus, 45.8% as Staphylococcus warneri, 16.6% as Staphylococcus epidermidis, 4.2% as Staphylococcus pasteuri and 4.2% as Staphylococcus capitis. All isolates were resistant to penicillin, 33.3% were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, 29.2% to erythromycin, 4.2% to oxacillin, 4.2% to gentamycin and 4.2% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The resistant to oxacillin isolate belonged to the S. epidermidis species and proved to carry the mecA gene. This study showed that the rate of nasal carriage of CoNS among veterinary students in Greece was low. The analysis of the standardised questionnaire, that was completed for each participating student during sampling, showed that pet owners tested positive for the coagulase-negative staphylococci were at a significantly lower rate (p-value=0.007) compared to non-pet owners. Moreover, among the participants who had visited a hospital over the last six months, the percentage of positive results in coagulase-negative staphylococci was significantly lower compared to that of the other participants (p-value=0.048). Although only one student found to carry methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis, its presence is evidence that this pathogen may circulate among veterinarians and the personnel of veterinary health establishments. Surveillance programs should also be performed in veterinary units because the emergence resistant bacteria in this environment may represent a risk to public health.

Staphylococci can infect both mammals and humans; they are one of the most common bacterial pathogens and one of the most important factors for nosocomial infections. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare human and animal samples in relation to Staphylococci and to examine their resistance to antibiotics in Thessaly, Greece.Method: A total of 344 samples were collected; 74 from humans and 270 from domestic animals (cats, dogs, goats, horses, sheep). Sampling was performed using cotton swabs. All Staphylococci were isolated, identified and tested for their susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents using an automated system. Result:The majority of the samples collected were positive to a bacterium. The bacterium, which was isolated was mainly Staphylococcus sciuri. The isolates of S. aureus were detected in the human samples, as well as in the samples from dogs, and horses. Regarding the resistance to antibiotics, the highest rates were recorded against penicillin. In conclusion, humans, domestic animals and people who are taking care of them carried S.aureus. Novelty of the workThe bacterium, which was isolated to a greater extent was Staphylococcus sciuri (12,2%). A really high percentage of Staphylococcus spp was found in human and in dog. Thus, we can conclude that there is a close contact between human and dog which allows the transmission of Staphylococcus.spp between them. The isolates of S. aureus were detected only in the samples of the human, dog, horse. Regarding the resistance to antibiotics, the highest rates were recorded against penicillin. The resistant rate of cat and dog to penicillin was the highest recorded (100%). The resistance rate of goat was also remarkable (20%). Moreover, pig, was resistant to all antibiotics apart from kanamycin, in which it was susceptible. Most of these animals' owners were asked and told that the animals had been given antibiotics at the moment in which the samples were taken or even earlier. These high rates of resistance, therefore, may occur due to the excessive use of penicillin that had been given by vets as a therapy to these animals. S. aureus isolates exhibited resistance to oxacillin, cefoxitin and penicillin.

Adipose tissue biopsies offer tissue samples that, upon analysis, may provide insightful overviews of mechanisms relating to metabolism and disease. To obtain subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies in the abdominal area, researchers and physicians use either a surgical or a needlebased technique. However, surgical subcutaneous fat biopsies can offer tissue samples that may provide a more comprehensive overview of the complexities of biological indices in white adipose tissue. Usually, a surgical adipose tissue biopsy includes a diathermy treatment for cauterizing blood vessels to prevent excessive bleeding. Nevertheless, side effects, such as flash fires and skin lesions in the tissue, have been reported after diathermy. Therefore, we aimed to standardize a surgical abdominal adipose tissue biopsy performed under local anesthesia using a nondiathermy method. We conducted 115 subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies in healthy men using a non-diathermy abdominal surgical biopsy method. Our results showed three cases of excessive post-operation bleeding out of 115 operations (2.61%).In conclusion, our standardized subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue surgical biopsy using a non-diathermy method can be safely applied to healthy men at the bedside, with minimal side effects.