Distribution of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in RAW meat and fish samples in Korea

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in raw meat and fish samples in Korea was investigated. A total of 209 samples was analyzed. Antimicrobial disk susceptibility testing with oxacillin (OX) was used to detect MRSA in 74 S. aureus isolates (35.4%), 7 of which showed resistance towards OX. The mecA gene was identified in the 7 isolates with OX resistance and was expressed in all 7 isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to analyze genetic homologies among the 7 MRSA isolates. No genetic correlations were detected among the isolates.