Prevalence, characterization and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from traditional cheeses in Turkey

Abstract

This study aimed to provide information about the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from traditional Turkish cheese samples in Ankara (Turkey), focusing on their prevalence, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, and antibiotic resistance. To this end, 387 cheese samples were randomly collected from various local bazaars and supermarkets. A total of 85 S. aureus isolates were identified by morphological, biochemical and molecular methods. In addition, the strains were screened for enterotoxin production. None of the strains was confirmed as being enterotoxigenic. The strains were tested for resistance to 29 different antimicrobial agents using the phenotyping agar diffusion method. The strains showed a high level of resistance (60-84.71%) to penicillin, ampicillin, and oxacillin. Furthermore, resistance to lincomycin, cefoxitin, clindamycin was also observed, although at slightly lower levels (50.-59-57.65%). Additionally, low-level resistance (1.4-48.8%) was observed against gentamicin, methicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin, cefepime, erythromycin, teicoplanin, rifampicin, vancomycin, cefazolin, netilmicin, sulfadimethoxazole, ofloxacin, enrofloxacin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, trimethoprim, and norfloxacin. None of the strains was resistant to doxycycline, linezolid, furazolidone, and chloramphenicol. About 72.94% of S. aureus strains were resistant to multiple drugs. Our results suggest that the presence of a high level of multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains in traditional Turkish cheese is not safe for human consumption. Therefore, uncontrolled use of antibiotics should be prevented in veterinary medicine.

Characterization of Virulence Genes and Antibiotic Resistance of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) Isolates in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Non-ICU Wards

“…Rossato et al in Brazil and Kot et al in Poland showed no resistance to vancomycin, linezolid, or teicoplanin (28,29). Also, in a study by Kayili and Sanlibaba in Turkey, no resistance to linezolid was reported in any of the S. aureus strains, but low resistance (18.8%) was observed to vancomycin (30). Fortunately, in our study, all strains of S. aureus were sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin.…”

Occurrence and Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus Strains along the Production Chain of Raw Milk Cheeses in Poland

“…There are currently few studies focusing on assessing the whole production chain of cheeses from unpasteurized milk [ 4 , 37 , 38 ]. Most studies have focused on the evaluation of S. aureus strains isolated from raw milk from cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis or only in finished products [ 24 , 29 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 ]. Nevertheless, estimation of the prevalence and genetic determinants of S. aureus is always important to facilitate the implementation of rational mitigation strategies and to avoid the dissemination of this pathogen through the food chain [ 43 ].…”

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiling of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from traditional cheese in Yunnan, China

“…Penicillin resistance in S. aureus strains isolated from milk and its byproducts has been detected in several previous studies worldwide (Dittmann et al 2017;Kalayu et al 2020;Liao et al 2018;Mohammed et al 2018;Pekana and Green 2018;Rodrigues et al 2017). A high prevalence of S. aureus resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and clindamycin was also screened in Brazil and Turkey, which was 77.9%, 68.3%, 65.4%, 24.0%, 19.2% (in milk and Brazilian Coalho cheese samples), and 84.71%, 72.94%, 22.35%, 5.88%, 50.59% (in soft and semisoft ripened Turkish cheese samples), respectively (Kayili and Sanlibaba 2020;Pereira et al 2018). Rodrigues et al (2017) studied the antimicrobial resistance profiles of Staphylococcus spp.…”

“…Comparing the findings of this study with other studies regarding the occurrence of AMR S. aureus, a Turkish study reported the investigation of S. aureus isolates from 387 traditional cheese samples (White, Tulum, Ezine, and raw sheep milk cheese) showed a high rate of MDR (72.94%). Meanwhile, a Brazilian study found a lower prevalence of S. aureus isolates (29%) (Kayili and Sanlibaba 2020;Pereira et al 2018). Several efflux pump genes are identified as responsible for MDR mechanisms (Mahmood et al 2016;Mbindyo et al 2021).…”