Determination of the Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Associated with Poultry in Four Districts in Zambia

Abstract

The presence of antimicrobial-resistant Enterococci in poultry is a growing public health concern worldwide due to its potential for transmission to humans. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and patterns of antimicrobial resistance and to detect drug-resistant genes in Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium in poultry from four districts in Zambia. Identification of Enterococci was conducted using phenotypic methods. Antimicrobial resistance was determined using the disc diffusion method and antimicrobial resistance genes were detected using polymerase chain reaction and gene-specific primers. The overall prevalence of Enterococci was 31.1% (153/492, 95% CI: 27.1–35.4). Enterococcus faecalis had a significantly higher prevalence at 37.9% (58/153, 95% CI: 30.3–46.1) compared with E. faecium, which had a prevalence of 10.5% (16/153, 95% CI: 6.3–16.7). Most of the E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates were resistant to tetracycline (66/74, 89.2%) and ampicillin and erythromycin (51/74, 68.9%). The majority of isolates were susceptible to vancomycin (72/74, 97.3%). The results show that poultry are a potential source of multidrug-resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium strains, which can be transmitted to humans. Resistance genes in the Enterococcus species can also be transmitted to pathogenic bacteria if they colonize the same poultry, thus threatening the safety of poultry production, leading to significant public health concerns.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from laying hens in Zambia: implications and significance on one health

“… 9 , 10 This has contributed to the continuous exposure of poultry microorganisms to antimicrobials and, thus, the development of AMR. 11 , 12 Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) are among the commensal or pathogenic microorganisms isolated from poultry that have become resistant to common antibiotics used in human and animal health. 13–16 E. coli causes infections such as urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, sepsis and meningitis.…”

Community antibiotic consumption and associated factors in Lusaka district of Zambia: findings and implications for antimicrobial resistance and stewardship

“… 94 , 104–108 Consequently, there is evidence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens across the human and animal sectors. 37 , 38 , 41 , 99 , 109–115 A study by Masich et al 116 revealed that about 67% of antimicrobials were inappropriately prescribed to non-critically ill adult patients admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. Intriguingly, the Zambian government has put in measures to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics by developing and implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) on AMR.…”

Insights into the novel Enterococcus faecalis phage: A comprehensive genome analysis

“…The rise in antibiotic resistance among Enterococcus species, particularly E. faecalis, underscores the urgent need for the development of new anti-infective therapies [6][7][8]. The surge in antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis strains has increased the urgency for innovative therapeutic approaches, prompting keen interest in phage-based interventions [9][10][11]. This burgeoning interest stems from the demonstrated efficacy of phage therapy (PT) in exerting lytic activity against diverse antibiotic-resistant E. faecalis isolates [12][13][14], thus providing a promising alternative treatment [13].…”

“…The surge in antibiotic-resistant E . faecalis strains has increased the urgency for innovative therapeutic approaches, prompting keen interest in phage-based interventions [ 9 – 11 ]. This burgeoning interest stems from the demonstrated efficacy of phage therapy (PT) in exerting lytic activity against diverse antibiotic-resistant E .…”