Estimation of Dietary Exposure to Antimicrobial Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Pork-based Food Dishes

Antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens is an important food safety issue worldwide as well as in Korea. In this study, exposure to antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Stapylococcus aureus was assessed from the consumption of pork based food dishes prepared in food service operations using the Monte Carlo simulation. Thirty five isolates of S. aureus were obtained from 124 semi-processed pork products and their antibiotic resistance patterns were determined. The highest resistance was observed for penicillin (76.7%) followed by ampicillin (70.0%). Two isolates were resistant to oxacillin (6.7%) and no vancomycin resistance was observed. Dietary exposure to penicillin resistant S. aureus as the most frequently observed AMR S. aureus from pork-based dishes was estimated based on contamination data as well as compliance to guidelines for time and temperature controls during food service operations. The mean level of penicillin resistant S. aureus in pork dishes during preparation was below 1 Log CFU/g. As a conservative approach, 95th percentile estimated level of penicillin resistant S. aureus was below the level for toxin production. The estimated probability of staphylococcal intoxication by AMR S. aureus was very low using currently available data.