OCCURANCE OF COAGULASE-POSITIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI IN SOFT CHEESE

Two hundred samples of soft cheese, collected from different retailers in Baghdad City, were examined for incidence of coagulase-positive Staph. aureus. The average count of coagulase-positive Staph. aureus per gram cheese was 28.88 x 10". 52% of cheese samples proved to contain 10°/g coagulase-positive Staphylococci. No correlation could be detacted between pH value and the number of Staph. aureus in examined samples. Isolated strains were highly resistance to Penicillin, Streptomycin and Ampicillin, while they were sensetive to Caramycin, Tetracyclin, Rifampin and Erythromycin. White colonies showed more resistance to antibiotics than golden-yellow colonies of isolated Staph. aureus. The public health importance of isolated organisms as well as recommended hygienic measures for cheese making are discussed.