Evaluation of chemical and microbial quality of food in northern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Iran is one of the developing countries and foodborne diseases commonly impose problems for public health, the health care system and the economy. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the chemical and microbial quality of food in northern Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019. This study was performed on food samples obtained in a straightforward way while visiting food preparation and distribution centers in Babol. Tests related to different food types were performed by laboratory experts. Data collection with a checklist: date and place of sampling, number of samples, type of food, type of test, compliance of results with standards. Data were analyzed by SPSS22 and descriptive statistics, Chi-square and t-test. RESULTS: 1043 food samples were tested from 5 groups of dairy products, protein, cereals, vegetables and other food groups. The highest number of samples in the cereal group was 767 samples (73.53%). In the cereal group, most samples were breads. The pH of 11.67% of breads and the salt in 21.49% of breads did not match the standard. The blankit (sodium hydrosulfite) on bread dough were negative. Moisture, gluten, ash and pH match with the standards in all flour samples. The results of microbial tests on sweets and ice cream showed that Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella were negative. Enterobacter aerogenes was positive in 8.20% of sweets, mold and yeast were positive in 19.58%. The results of microbial tests on buttermilk and yogurt, grilled meat and chicken sandwiches, vegetables and salads showed that bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and all microorganisms were negative. Mold tests were positive in 11.12% of juice samples. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the foods and drinks supplied in food and drink preparation and distribution centers in Babol in 2019 were of good chemical and microbial quality. In some food groups the results of microbial and chemical testings were negative, i.e. without contamination. Less than 20% of products in the group of cereals and protein products did not match with the standards, which is a satisfactory result compared to other studies conducted in different cities of Iran. These good results for food quality can be explained bythe constructive performance of food health experts that made good controling, monitoring, and food health and hygiene education.

Genetic diversity of healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Southern Iran.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen causing hospital infections. The increasing rate of healthcare-associated infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in developing countries has led to many public health problems. This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology as well as the antibiotic resistance pattern of clinical isolates of MRSA from Southern Iran. A total of 135 S. aureus isolates were collected from the patients referred to three hospitals in South Iran. The phenotypic and genotypic diagnosis of MRSA isolates was performed by disk diffusion and PCR methods, respectively. The antibiotic resistance pattern for MRSA isolates was performed using Kirby-Bauer method. The molecular epidemiology of isolates was performed by MLST, Spa typing and SCCmec typing. From 135 S. aureus isolates, 50 (37%) MRSA strains were detected from which two different sequence types including ST239 and ST605 were identified. SCCmec type III was the most common profile (50%) and t030 was the predominant spa type (48%) among the strains. The MRSA isolates had the highest resistance to penicillin (100%), tetracycline (88%), levofloxacin (86%), ciprofloxacin (84%), erythromycin (82%), gentamicin (80%), and clindamycin (78%). The results of this study show that the most common genetic type among the MRSA isolates was ST239-SCCmec III/t030. The rapid and timely detection of MRSA and the administration of appropriate antibiotics according to the published antibiotic resistance patterns are essential. Furthermore, the continuous and nationwide MRSA surveillance studies are necessary to investigate clonal distribution and spreading of MRSA from community to hospitals.

Molecular characterization of the first community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from Central Iran.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has spread throughout the world with varying regional incidences and different staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements in different genetic backgrounds. No information is available on CA-MRSA in Iran. A cross-sectional study was carried out among healthy students to investigate: (1) the prevalence of CA-MRSA in Central Iran, (2) the molecular epidemiology of such CA-MRSA strains, (3) the antimicrobial resistance patterns of the strains, and (4) the distribution of virulence genes in these CA-MRSA strains. METHODS: A total of 700 nasal swabs were collected and subjected to S. aureus and MRSA-specific isolation procedures. Antimicrobial resistance patterns were determined using the disk diffusion method, and molecular typing was carried out by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), SCCmec typing, and Staphylococcus protein A (spa) typing for all CA-MRSA isolates. PCR was used to detect various virulence genes. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-four S. aureus strains were isolated from the anterior nares of 700 healthy students. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions for CA-MRSA, seven (4.5%) isolates were confirmed as CA-MRSA. CA-MRSA isolates belonged to SCCmec types IV (n = 6) and V (n = 1). The predominant spa-type among the CA-MRSA isolates was t790 (n = 3), with single t660, t084, and t325 isolates; one isolate was not typeable. The predominant sequence type was ST22, t790, SCCmec IV in three isolates, and the four other sequence types were ST25, ST859, ST14, and ST15. CONCLUSIONS: Iranian CA-MRSA strains are genetically diverse with an elevated prevalence of t790/ST22 SCCmec IV isolates. These findings support the need for more effective infection control measures to reduce nasal carriage and prevent dissemination of CA-MRSA in Iran.