ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCAL ISOLATES RECOVERED FROM SUBCLINICAL MASTITIS IN THE NORTH OF PALESTINE

Abstract

The antimicrobial resistance to 10 antibiotics was determined in 132 staphylococcal isolates. These representing Staphylococcus aureus (n=66) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=66). All isolates were from milk samples obtained from subclinical mastitis from Awassi ewes, local goats and Fresian cows. Results indicated that among all the antimicrobial agents tested the highest resistance of staphylococcal isolates was to ampicillin. The frequency of resistance to ampicillin was 75.8 and 66.7% against S. aureus and S. epidermidis isolates, respectively. Resistance to amikacin, cefepime, vancomycin, tobramycin or chloramphenicol was rare. None of staphylococcal isolates was susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Resistance to at least 3 drugs was found in (35) 53% and (28) 42.4 % of S. aureus and S. epidermidis isolates, respectively.