Guardians of resistance and virulence: detection of mec, femA, Van, pvl, hlg and spa genes in methicillin and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from clinical and food samples in Southwestern Nigeria.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus strains are highly virulent and associated with an eclectic range of severe nosocomial and community-acquired infections.

Objectives: This study assessed methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/VRSA) from clinical and ready-to-eat (RTE) food sources, screened for antibiotic resistance; and molecular determinants of antibiotic and virulence genes.

Methods: Altogether, 465 clinical and RTE food samples were analyzed via conventional microbiological techniques and S.