Antibiotic resistance profiles of Staphylococcus spp. from white button mushrooms and handlers

The presence of Staphylococcus spp. has increasingly been reported in food products and poses a public health threat. aim this study was to determine the diversity antibiotic resistance profiles isolates obtained from freshly harvested packed ready-to-eat mushrooms (n=432) handlers’ hands (n=150). A total 56 [46.4% (n=26) 53.6% (n=30) mushrooms] were recovered belonging 10 species. succinus (n=21) most prevalent, which 52.4% came 47.6% hands. This followed by S. equorum [n=12; 91.7% (n=11) 8.3% (n=1) hands] saprophyticus [n=9; 66.7% (n=6) 33.3% (n=3) hands]. Six that characterised as multidrug resistant isolated handlers. Most (83.9%; n=47) penicillin [53.2% (n=25) 46.8% (n=22) 14.3% (n=8) cephalosporin classes [25% (n=2) 75% hands], both are used treat staphylococcal infections. Antibiotic genes blaZ [25.0% (n=14) all 71.4% (n=10) 28.57% (n=4) mushrooms], tetL tetK [both 1.8% mecA [5.4% ermA [1.8% detected isolates. Only two (25.0%) eight methicillin-resistant staphylococci harboured gene, while only 11 (23%) 47 penicillin-resistant gene [36.4% 63.6% (n=7) Our results demonstrate handlers could be source diverse exhibit antimicrobial resistance. Clinically relevant aureus on one handler’s hand; however, isolate not resistant. is potential concern due their cause opportunistic infections.Significance: first describe fresh pickers packers. Mushrooms demonstrated possible routes transmission harbour genes, presenting hazard.