Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage in Poultry Farmers and Poultry Slaughterers in Ouarzazate - Morocco

Aim: The aim of this study were to assess the prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA among moroccan farmers and slaughterers of poultry, to determine the risk factors associated with this carriage and to evaluate susceptibility of isolated strains to antibiotics.

Methodology: Poultry farmers and slaughterers from Oarzazate-Morocco were selected for nasal swabs collection with information on potential risk factors for S. aureus colonization. Isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of this pathogen were performed according to the conventional methods of bacteriology.

Results: Nasal swabs from 52 poultry workers enabled isolation of 25 (48.07%) S. aureus strains among which 8 (15.38%) were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Risk factors analysis revealed that seniority in the profession and livestock /slaughterhouse duration increased risk of S. aureus and MRSA nasal carriage. Isolated strains presented high rates of resistance to antibiotics, particularly to Penicillin, Tetracycline and Erythromycin. However, all of them were still susceptible to vancomycin.