Mjs. Soares et al., ENTEROTOXIN PRODUCTION BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS CLONES AND DETECTION OF BRAZILIAN EPIDEMIC MRSA CLONE (III /B/A) AMONG ISOLATES FROM FOOD HANDLERS/, Journal of Medical Microbiology, 46(3), 1997, pp. 214-221
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.