ENTEROTOXIN PRODUCTION BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS CLONES AND DETECTION OF BRAZILIAN EPIDEMIC MRSA CLONE (III /B/A) AMONG ISOLATES FROM FOOD HANDLERS/

Staphylococcus aureus is a major bacterial pathogen involved in a wide range of diseases varying from infections to toxaemia. Staphylococcal food-poisoning syndrome is caused by ingestion of bacterial enterotox ins. These toxins are microbial superantigens and may also be virulenc e factors involved in staphylococcal infection. This study determined the enterotoxin types and pulsed-field gel patterns found among S. aur eus isolates obtained from food handlers in community or hospital-loca ted kitchens. Staphylococcal enterotoxin C was the most frequent enter otoxin produced. The data also suggested horizontal spread of ent gene s among isolates belonging to the Brazilian epidemic MRSA clone III::B :A. A subclone of MRSA clone III::B:A was isolated from two hospital k itchen workers. This was the first report of this clone from a hospita l in Teresina, Piaui State, although the presence of this MRSA clone h as already been reported in six other Brazilian cities.