Frequency of resistance to methicillin and other antimicrobial agents among

Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from pigs and their human handlerspig
farmer, in Quito, in Ecuador. 2014
Rivadeneira S, Ortega-Paredes D, Barba P, Alulema C, Zurita J.
BACKGROUND: Livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(LA-MRSA) has emerged recently worldwide in production animals, particularly pigs,
which act as reservoirs for of MRSA strains for human infection. The study determined
the prevalence of MRSA and other resistant strains of S. aureus isolated from the
anterior nares of pigs and human handlerspig farmers on pig farms in Ecuador (The city
of Quito and the surroundingfrom rural communities around Quito). METHODS:
Isolation of S. aureus was done by concurrently inoculating on 6,5% ClNa Broth,
Chromagar CHROMagar MRSA (CHROM) and Manitol Salt agar (MSA) with swab
samples and the isolates were identified using standard methods. The MRSA strains
phenotypically Ssuspected MRSA isolates fromfrom Chromagar CHROMagar and
MSA, have been were subjected to genotypic confirmatory test using a multiplex PCR
assay for nNuc (an S. aureus-specific gen that encodes thermonuclease enzyme), mecA
(methicillin resistance gen) and luk s/f (genes encoding the PVL toxin).. In addition,
simultaneous detection byThe Vitek2 method was have used to determine resistance to
antimicrobial agents. RESULTS: The frequency of isolation of S. aureus was 3.2% (5
of 156) offor pigs and 30.4% (35 of 115) for of humans. Isolates of S. aureus from
humans had higher resistance to the following antimicrobials: penicillin G (91.4%),
erythomycin (37.1%), clindamycin (31.4%) and tetracycline (25.7%). There was
moderate resistance to gentamycin (11.4%) and low resistance to sulfamethoxazoletrimethoprim (5.7%) and levofloxacin (8.6%). There were no resistance (0%) to
rifampicin, vancomycin and linezolid. By tThe Vitek2 methodsystem reported, the
frequency of resistance to oxacillin was 20% (7/35) and 20% (1/5) from S. aureus
isolates from humans and pigs, respectively. Representing, a 6.08% (7/115) of
prevalence in the pig farmers population and 0.64% (1/156) in pigs. Out of a total of 7
isolates MRSA strains of human and one from pigs, the sources that were resistant to
oxacillin (MIC >4 ug/mL) have been confirmed by multiplex PCR assay. Out of a total
of 35 isolates of S. aureus from human and one from pig sources that were resistant to
oxacillin (MIC >4 ug/mL), only 8 (19.2%) were confirmed as multiplex PCR (nuc, pvl
and mecA) CONCLUSIONS: For Now, in this study, the LA-MRSA strains do not
seem to pose a significant risk, as was showed in other studies around Latin America
and Europe, but their evolution is unpredictable: It could be better able to colonize, with
more resistance turning in more pathogenic bacterias. The Continuous surveillance is a
must to promptly detect new types of MRSA and their multiple antimicrobial resistance,
in animals and the people who care them, in order to evaluate their impact on human.At
the moment in this study MRSA do not seem to pose a great risk, as was showed in
other studies in Latin America, but their evolution is unpredictable: they could become
better able to colonize, more resistant, or more pathogenic. Continuous surveillance is
necessary to promptly detect new types of MRSA from animals and to evaluate their
impact on human.

KEYWORDS: MRSA; prevalence; Ecuador; pigs; resistancepig farm; pig farmer; pig;
livestock; S. aureus.