Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Enterotoxin-Encoding Genes in Staphylococcus spp. Recovered from Kitchen Equipment from a University Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

摘要

This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and enterotoxin-encoding genes (EEGs) in Staphylococcus spp. recovered from equipment used to prepare hospital meals, in a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sixty samples were collected from semi-industrial equipment (one blender and one mixer) in the hospital's kitchen. Resistance genes and SCCmec types were detected by PCR. From the 40 isolates of Staphylococcus spp. identified, 8 were Staphylococcus aureus. Thirty-two (80%) Staphylococcus spp. isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance genetic determinants were detected: erm gene (Staphylococcus epidermidis [n=2]; Staphylococcus hominis [n=1]), mecA gene (S. epidermidis [n=2]), and aa(6)-aph(2) gene (Staphylococcus caprae [n=1], S. epidermidis [n=2], S. hominis [n=1], Staphylococcus pausteri [n=1], Staphylococcus simulans [n=1], and Staphylococcus warneri [n=1]). The presence of at least one EEG in 83% (n=33) of the isolates was identified. Two strains of S. epidermidis were methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE) and harboring SCCmec type IV. Staphylococcus spp. contaminated some hospital kitchen's equipment, indicating that hygiene procedures should be improved. Results also indicate that meals can be a vehicle to disseminate multiresistant Staphylococcus spp., including MRSE, and Staphylococcus with EEGs.