Culture-Based Wastewater Surveillance for the Detection and Monitoring of Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcal Species

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) is valuable for monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Staphylococci are key targets, as wastewater can facilitate gene transfer and resistance emergence. Data on WBS for population-level AMR in the Arabian-Gulf remain limited. This study assessed <i>Staphylococcus</i> diversity and resistance in Dubai wastewater. Samples were collected over eight months from nine community sites, two hospital nodes, and two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and were analysed by culture-based method. Ninety-six <i>Staphylococcus</i> isolates were recovered from community, hospital, and WWTP influent, with no growth in effluent. Most isolates (n/N = 88/96) were <i>coagulase-negative Staphylococcus</i> (CoNS), spanning 15 species, dominated by <i>S. saprophyticus</i>, <i>S. cohnii</i> and <i>S. sciuri</i>. The only coagulase-positive <i>Staphylococcus</i> was <i>S. aureus</i> (n = 8) and the only species detected across all wastewater sources. Resistance was highest to benzylpenicillin (88%) and fusidic acid (82%), whereas all isolates remained susceptible to glycopeptides, tigecycline, and linezolid. Fusidic acid resistance was higher in community-wastewater isolates, whereas β-lactam resistance predominated in hospital-wastewater isolates. Sixty percent of CoNS were multidrug-resistant; methicillin resistance occurred in 37.5% of CoNS and 50% of <i>S. aureus</i>. Wastewater is a reservoir of diverse multidrug-resistant staphylococci, underscoring One Health relevance reflecting the potential for circulation between humans, animals, and the shared environment. WBS can support population-level AMR monitoring to inform public health and veterinary interventions.