Potential of Natural Phenolic Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents against Multidrug-Resistant IStaphylococcus aureus/I in Chicken Meat

Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent foodborne bacterium causing significant morbidity, mortality, and economic loss, due especially to pathogenic and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This study focused on determining the prevalence of S. aureus in chicken meat in Egyptian markets and assessing the effectiveness of natural phenolic compounds as novel antibacterial agents against MDR S. aureus. The study found that 91.3% of chicken meat parts were contaminated with S. aureus, with 81.8% of the isolates being MDR. Twenty-two antibiotic resistance patterns were identified, and six strains showed the highest combination of virulence and resistance genes. The phenolic compound hydroquinone exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity compared to other compounds, making it a potential alternative to conventional antibiotics against the pathogenic MDR S. aureus found in raw chicken meat. This study highlights the need for urgent interventions to improve hygiene for safer meat in Egyptian markets and suggests hydroquinone as an effective natural compound for inhibiting foodborne pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most widespread foodborne bacteria that cause high morbidity, mortality, and economic loss, primarily if foodborne diseases are caused by pathogenic and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of S. aureus in chicken meat in Egyptian markets. Thus, this study might be the first to assess the efficiency of different natural phenolic compounds as novel antibacterial agents against MDR S. aureus pathogens isolated from raw chicken meat in the Egyptian market. The incidence and quantification of pathogenic S. aureus were detected in retail raw chicken meat parts (breast, thigh, fillet, and giblets). In total, 73 out of 80 (91.3%) of the chicken meat parts were contaminated, with S. aureus as the only species isolated. Of the 192 identified S. aureus isolates, 143 were coagulase-positive S. aureus and 117 isolates were MDR (81.8%, 117/143). Twenty-two antibiotic resistance profile patterns were detected. One strain was randomly selected from each pattern to further analyze virulence and resistance genes. Extracted DNA was assessed for the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes, i.e., vancomycin-resistance (vanA), aminoglycosides-resistance (aacA–aphD), apramycin-resistance (apmA), and methicillin-resistance (mecA), penicillin-resistance (blaZ), and virulence genes staphylococcal enterotoxins (sea and s