Detection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carrying the mecA Gene among Food Handlers in Khartoum Province

Abstract

Food handlers with poor personal hygiene are the potential sources of infection. This study was essentially designed to detect methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carrying mec A gene amongst food handlers working in cafeterias in Khartoum Province. Specimens including nasal swabs and hand (left and right) swabs were collected from each food handler. The specimens were cultivated on Manitol Salt Agar, and incubated at 37ºC overnight. S. aureus were identified by their colonial morphology, Gram's stain and biochemical tests. MRSA was determined by both conventional technique using oxacillin disk diffusion method, and molecular technique using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The mec A gene was detected by PCR. The result revealed that out of 165 specimens investigated, 48 S. aureus were recovered, 21(38%) from nasal swabs; 17 (31%) from right hand and 10 (18%) from left hand. Study on detection of MRSA amongst the isolates showed that only 4(8.3%) out of 48 S. aureus isolates were MRSA when tested by oxacillin disk diffusion method, while 21(43.7%) from the isolates had the MecA gene detected by PCR based method. It is concluded that the percentage of MRSA amongst food handlers was high when using PCR. Regular checking using PCR technique is highly recommended. Further studies are required to validate these results.