Detection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Human and Animals in Basra Province / Iraq

Abstract

During the period from October 2010 to March 2011, two hundred eighty-five specimens were collected from AL-Basra province and surveyed for the occurrence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Depending on the source of collection, specimen was divided into 6 groups (124 samples of cow milk, 25 samples of cow nasal swabs, 56 samples of sheep nasal swabs, 20 samples of goat nasal swabs, 33 samples of human nasal swabs (obtained from nosocomial infection) and 27 samples of environmental swabs). Totally, S. aureus were identified from 72 samples, these consisted of 35/72 (48.61%) isolates from cow milk, 1/72 (1.38%) isolate from cow nasal swabs, 7/72(9.72%) isolates from sheep nasal swabs, 1/72 (1.38%) isolate from goat nasal swabs, 19/72(26.38%) isolates from human nasal swabs and 9/72(12.5%) isolates from environmental swabs, depending on morphological, cultural, microscopical characterization and biochemical tests. The 72 S. aureus isolates showed variability in its susceptibility to 18 different antibiotics. In conclusion, this study investigated the presence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in animals and human samples.

Keywords

• Iraq
• Methicillin
• Staphylococcus aureus
• MRSA
• human
• cow
• sheep