Laboratory Diagnostic Methods and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> Strains: An Evolving Human Health Challenge
Feras Alzaben,
Shawkat Fat’hi,
Ayman Elbehiry,
Maha Alsugair,
Eman Marzouk,
Adil Abalkhail,
Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini,
Mohammed Rawway,
Mai Ibrahem,
Wael Sindi,
Turki Alshehri,
Mohamed Hamada
Affiliations
Feras Alzaben
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
Shawkat Fat’hi
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
Ayman Elbehiry
Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Al Bukayriyah 52741, Saudi Arabia
Maha Alsugair
Department of Preventive Medicine, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah 23311, Saudi Arabia
Eman Marzouk
Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Al Bukayriyah 52741, Saudi Arabia
Adil Abalkhail
Department of Public Health, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, Qassim University, Al Bukayriyah 52741, Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Rawway
Biology Department, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka 42421, Saudi Arabia
Mai Ibrahem
Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Wael Sindi
Department of Preventive Medicine, King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah 23311, Saudi Arabia
Turki Alshehri
Dental Department, Alhada Armed Forces Hospital, Taif City 26792, Saudi Arabia
Mohamed Hamada
Department of Food Hygiene & Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sadat City University, Sadat City 32511, Egypt
Raw ground meat is known as a transmission vehicle for biological agents that may be harmful to human health. The objective of the present study was to assess microbiological quality of the ground meats. A total of 280 samples of local and imported chilled meats were randomly collected from retail shops in Buraydah City, Saudi Arabia. The meat samples were microbiologically analyzed using standard methods, peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) technique, MicroScan Walkaway System (MicroScan) and qPCR System. The imported meat was more bacterially contaminated than local meat, with variable contamination degrees of Staphylococcus aureus (40.33%), Escherichia coli (36.13%), Hafnia alvei (7.56%), Pseudomonas spp. (6.72%), Salmonella spp. (5.88%) and Aeromonas spp. (3.36%). PMF verified all the isolated bacteria by 100%, compared to 75–95% achieved by MicroScan. The gene encoding flagellin (fliC) was recognized in 67.44% of E. coli strains, while the thermonuclease (nuc) and methicillin resistance (mecA) genes were detected in 100% S. aureus and 39.6% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, respectively. The S. aureus and E. coli strains were highly resistant to multiple antibiotics (e.g., ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cephalothin). For identifying various foodborne pathogens, PMF has been recognized as a powerful and precise analytical method. In light of the increasing use of PMF to detect multidrug-resistant bacteria, this study emphasizes the need for improved ways of treating and preventing pathogens, as well as setting up monitoring systems to guarantee hygiene and safety in meat production.
