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Objectives To comparatively investigate the resistance phenotypes and genotypes of various methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from broilers at slaughter and workers at the respective poultry slaughterhouses. Methods Forty-six MRSA isolates (28 from broilers and 18 from humans) obtained at four different slaughterhouses were included. In addition to previously determined sequence types (STs) and spa types, the isolates were characterized by dru typing, SCCmec typing and PFGE. Resistance phenotypes were determined by broth microdilution. Resistance genes and clonal complexes (CCs) were detected by DNA microarray or specific PCR assays. Results MRSA of CC398, spa type t011 and varying dru types represented 23/28 broiler isolates and 12/18 human isolates. Three ST9/t1430/dt10a isolates were each seen among the isolates from the abattoir workers and the broilers. In addition, two human CC398/ST1453/t4652/dt3c isolates, a single human CC398/t034/dt6j isolate and two chicken CC398/t108/dt11a isolates were detected. All CC398 isolates (including ST1453) and some of the ST9 isolates from chickens and humans showed resistance to four to nine classes of antimicrobial agents and carried a wide range of resistance genes. While the resistance phenotypes and genotypes of the chicken isolates of the same flock were closely related, they usually differed from the resistance phenotypes and genotypes of the isolates from the workers at the respective slaughterhouse. Conclusions The apparent homogeneity of MRSA isolates from the same flock suggests exchange of isolates between the respective animals. The apparent heterogeneity of MRSA isolates from abattoir workers might reflect their occupational contact with animals from numerous chicken flocks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: Twenty-five MRSA ST398 isolates from cases of bovine clinical mastitis and two isolates from farm personnel collected from 17 dairy farms in Germany were investigated for genetic relatedness, antimicrobial resistance and virulence properties. Methods: Genomic relationships were determined by ApaI PFGE, spa typing, SCCmec typing and dru typing. Antimicrobial resistance phenotypes were determined by broth microdilution. Resistance and virulence genes were detected via a diagnostic DNA microarray and specific PCRs. Results: Nine major ApaI PFGE patterns were detected. Three spa types (t011, t034 and t2576) and two SCCmec types (IV and V) were identified. Five different dru types were seen with dt11a being predominant. All isolates were negative for Panton--Valentine leucocidin, enterotoxin and exfoliative toxin genes. Ten resistance patterns were observed with 11 (40.7%) isolates being resistant to only β-lactamantibiotics and tetracyclines. Several resistance genes were detected: blaZ (penicillin resistance); tet(M), tet(K) and tet(L) (tetracycline resistance); erm(A), erm(B), erm(C) and erm(T) (macrolide/lincosamide/streptogramin B resistance); aacA--aphD, aphA3, aadD and spc (aminoglycoside or aminocyclitol resistance); fexA (phenicol resistance); dfrK (trimethoprim resistance); and vga(A) and vga(C) (pleuromutilin/lincosamide/streptogramin A resistance). The two human isolates were indistinguishable in their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics from the mastitis isolates of the same farm. Conclusions: As previously described for ST398 from swine, isolates of this sequence type from cases of bovine mastitis also demonstrated a high degree of variability when ApaI PFGE profiles and other genotypic and phenotypic characteristics were compared. A uniform virulence gene pattern appeared to be conserved between ST398 isolates from both animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Fifty-four methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 isolates from unrelated diseased swine collected all over Germany were comparatively investigated for their antimicrobial resistance and virulence properties, and for their genomic relatedness. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

People that the editors would like to thank for their assistance with the assessment of manuscripts in 2013 are mentioned.

People that the author would like to thank for their assistance with the assessment of manuscripts for the journal in 2013 are listed including Rob Aarnouste, Ronny Beer and Joel Dulhunty.

People who the editors would like to thank for their assistance in the assessment of manuscripts from 2011 through December 2012 are mentioned, including Emily Adams, Steward Cooper, and Yanjin Zhang.

People that the editors would like to thank for their assistance with the assessment of manuscripts for the "Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy" are listed, including Frank Moller Aarestrup, Ibrahim Cagatay Acuner, and Heather Jill Adam.

People who the editors would like to thank for their assistance with the assessment of manuscripts for the "Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy" during the period of October 2009 to November 2010 are mentioned.