<p>Prevalence of methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (MRSA) carriage and pattern of antibiotic resistance among sheep farmers from Southern Italy</p>

Abstract

PurposeWe conducted a cross-sectional study to measure the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization, with a particular focus on livestock associated (LA)-MRSA in farmers working in contact with livestock (sheep) in one Italian region. Furthermore, we have assessed the antimicrobial resistance pattern of isolates and the association of carriage with specific characteristic of farms and working tasks.Patients and methodsDemographic data, occupational history, and contact with animals information was collected. Nasal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected and all samples were tested for the isolation and identification of S. aureus. Isolates were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility and all MRSA strains underwent molecular analyses through multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA).ResultsA total of 115 sheep farms and 275 sheep farmers were enrolled. MRSA colonized workers were found in three farms; S. aureus was isolated in 97 workers (35.5%), whereas MRSA was isolated in 3 (1.1%) workers. All MRSA isolates were classified as multidrug resistant. Two of the MRSA isolates were resistant to quinupristin/dalfopristin (QDA), mupirocin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Among methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), 32 (34%) were resistant to tetracycline, 31 (33%) to erythromycin, 26 (27.6%) to QDA, and 22 (23.4%) to linezolid and clindamycin. One MRSA belonged to MLVA complex (MC) 001, found to colonize both humans and animals.ConclusionThe picture of MRSA transmission among sheep farmers does not seem to be critical, although there is the need to improve adequate control measures to prevent and minimize any biological risk in sheep farms for both animal and human health. Specific monitoring/surveillance programs would help in better understanding the epidemiology of resistant strains.

Study of the antibacterial effects of the starch-based zinc oxide nanoparticles on methicillin resistance <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> isolates from different clinical specimens of patients from Basrah, Iraq

“…In this study, 61 MRSA isolates were collected from 150 different clinical samples of Iraqi patients, confirming the prevalence of 40.7%. This prevalence rate of MRSA was lower than previous reports from Iran (78.9%) [11] and Iraq (53.1%) [20] , and was higher than studies from Italy (1.1%) [21] and Ghana (17.1%) [22] . Differences in prevalence rates may be explained by the differences in bacteria detection methods, examined populations, and studied sample types and sizes in various countries.…”

The European Union Summary Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2019–2020

“…spa‐ type t223 has, however, also been reported from cattle in Belgium in 2018 (see Figure 1 and Table 6 in Annex E ) pointing to a potential animal origin of the isolates. On the other hand, CC22 isolates have also been observed in people handling sheep in Italy (Mascaro et al., 2019 ). Hence the origin and transmission are difficult to discern and more data on this are needed for non‐CC398 isolates.…”

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from sheep and humans in Veterinary Hospital Maiduguri, Nigeria

“…However, our findings contradict and exceed 7% reported among veterinary staff by Espadale et al . [ 23 ], 6.5% reported among veterinary personnel [ 20 ], 3.4% reported among contact people handling animals in households, most of which work in the veterinary profession [ 24 ], and 1.1% was also reported among sheep farmers in Southern Italy [ 25 ]. Similarly, it exceeded human health care workers, where 6.2% was found in France and 6% in Turkey [ 26 , 27 ].…”