ABSTRACT:To understand the status of contamination and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (S .aureus) isolated from raw cow milk ,600 samples were collected from five different provinces in China .After isolation and identification of S .aureus from these samples ,157 S .aureus isolates were obtained .Furthermore ,their resistant phenotype and resistant gene were analyzed by MIC detection ,as well as nine drug‐resistance genes determination and analysis .The result revealed that most of the S .aureus isolates contained multiple antibiotic resistant genes ,and all of the isolates were resistant to penicillin . Of 98 .73% isolates were resistant to amoxicillin .Conversely ,all of the isolates were sensitive to enrofloxacin and vancomycin . Moreover ,there were 29 MRSA positive strains among which 22 strains carrying femA gene .In conclusion ,much more atten‐tion should be paid to the drug‐resistance capabilities of field S .aureus isolates in raw cow milk ,and further monitoring of drug resistant S .aureus strains in milk should also be strengthened so as to ensure milk safety .