MRSA Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance in UAE Retail Foods

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from the United Arab Emirates University, in collaboration with colleagues from other institutions, have conducted a study to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, and toxin gene distribution of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in retail foods of animal and plant origin in Dubai, UAE. The study aimed to fill the knowledge gap on MRSA in the UAE, where the country's food supply chains are highly diverse.

Key Takeaways:

  • MRSA was detected in 47.7% of samples, with the highest prevalence in chicken meat (75%), followed by camel (55%), and beef (45.7%).
  • Contamination was lower in fruit (16.7%) and vegetable cuts (30%).
  • Minced beef exhibited significantly higher contamination (78.5%) compared to other beef forms.
  • All 87 isolates were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, and resistance varied across food groups for gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and tetracycline.
  • Multidrug resistance (3 classes) was found in 79.3% of isolates, with extensive resistance (4 classes) more frequent in camel (75%) and beef (65.4%) isolates.
  • Enterotoxin genes were identified in 42.5% of isolates, predominantly sea (29.1%).
  • Exfoliative toxin gene type A was detected most often in vegetable cuts.
  • Dual toxin gene carriage was rare (4.6%).

Statistics:

  • 47.7% of samples were contaminated with MRSA
  • 75% of chicken meat samples were contaminated with MRSA
  • 78.5% of minced beef samples were contaminated with MRSA
  • 87% of isolates were resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics
  • 79.3% of isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (3 classes)
  • 65.4% of beef isolates exhibited extensive resistance (4 classes)
  • 42.5% of isolates had enterotoxin genes identified
  • 29.1% of isolates had sea enterotoxin gene identified
  • 4.6% of isolates had dual toxin gene carriage

Sources:

  • Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and distribution of toxin genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from retail meat and fruit and vegetable cuts in the United Arab Emirates. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2025, 15. (Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology - http://www.frontiersin.org/Cellular_and_Infection_Microbiology)
  • United Arab Emirates University Researchers Report Research in Staphylococcus aureus (Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and distribution of toxin genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from retail meat and fruit and vegetable ...). Life Science Weekly. October 21, 2025; p 8184.