Identificación molecular del gen blaZ en cepas de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes a meticilina de origen clínico y alimentari

Abstract

Abstract:Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium described as a gram-positive coccus associated with invasive infections in various hosts of clinical and veterinary relevance. It possesses the capacity to incorporate resistance genes such as blaZ, mecA, mecC, and cfr, which give it a multidrug-resistant profile, making methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) a threat to public health. This study analyzed the prevalence of the blaZ gene in 51 MRSA strains obtained from food-handling personnel at a public hospital in the city of Loja and the resulting products. The strains were reactivated using enriched media and subsequently analyzed by conventional PCR. Forty-five percent of the strains analyzed presented a 772-bp amplicon corresponding to the blaZ gene. A higher frequency was detected in those isolated from staff skin samples, suggesting a potential source of direct transmission to both food and patients through physical contact. This suggests the need to strengthen genotypic surveillance for resistant strains in hospital settings and their impact on the population.