Prevalence and Characterization of Multi-Resistant Staphylococcus SPP. Isolated from Poultry Liver

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and to characterize multi‐resistant Staphylococcus spp. in raw poultry liver intended for human consumption. Staphylococcus was isolated from 116 of 120 raw liver samples (96.7%; CI 95% ± 3.2). One hundred and thirty‐six isolates (73.1% CI 95% ±7.93) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial while 30 isolates (25.9% CI 95% ±7.97) were resistant to at least three antimicrobial agents. Nine species of staphylococci were identified among the multi‐resistant isolates. Ten out of 30 multi‐resistant isolates were resistant to methicillin, including four MRSA strains. The most common multi‐resistance combination was toward tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and macrolides/lincosamides. All Staphylococcus isolates from poultry liver remain susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, rifampin, sulfamethoxazole‐trimethoprim and streptogramins. The most prevalent genes encoding resistance were tetK, tetM (tetracyclines), blaZ, mecA (beta‐lactams), ermB, ermC, msrA (macrolides and lincosamides) and aac(6′)‐Ie‐aph(2″)‐Ia (aminoglycosides). Practical Applications Staphylococcus spp. frequently contaminates raw poultry liver sold in retail markets. Multi‐resistant staphylococci are potential hazard for consumers as they often are resistant to critically important antimicrobials for humans including beta‐lactams (cefalosporins and penicillinase resistant penicillins), macrolides and fluoroquinolones. Hygienic measures in raw food‐production should be strongly enforced. Personal hygiene during marketing is also very important since multi‐resistant bacteria could easily spread among salespersons and consumers. More stringent requirements for sanitary standards in retail markets need to be set, and the existing requirements should be more strongly enforced on a daily basis.