Antimicrobial Resistance and Public Health Risks Associated with Staphylococci Isolated from Raw and Processed Meat Products.

This study aimed at evaluating the occurrence, antibiotic resistance, and β-lactamase production in isolates recovered from meat and meat products, as well as the incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in these bacterial isolates. The prevalence of was very high (75% and 50%) in street kebab and raw buffalo meat, respectively. The antibiotic resistance and susceptibility behavior showed that 82% of the isolates were resistant to β-lactam antibiotics such as aztreonam, followed by methicillin (68%), oxacillin (54%), cefepime (36%), ceftazidime (34%), cefaclor (24%), cefotaxime (22%), ertapenem (4%), meropenem and imipenem (2%). Among non-β-lactam antibiotics, the most widespread resistance was observed against nalidixic acid (80%), sulfadiazine (76%), vancomycin (24%), erythromycin (10%), chloramphenicol (6%), and kanamycin and gatifloxacin (4%). One hundred percent of the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, gemifloxacin, and cefotaxime/clavulanic acid. drug-resistant characteristics revealed 36 distinct resistance patterns of isolates, with 82% of them being multidrug resistant (MDR). Iodometric assay showed that 48% of the isolates produced β-lactamase and 24% of the isolates were capable of producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases phenotypically. The most commonly detected AMR gene was (29.2%), followed by 1 (25%) and and (20.8%), in isolates. Current findings show widespread occurrence of MDR strains in raw meat and street meat products, which is a potential risk to public health. Therefore, the study suggests strict monitoring of hygiene through the whole food chain and judicious use of antibiotics.