Prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in healthy adults, foods, food animals, and the environment in selected areas in Thailand

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli, in samples from healthy adults, foods, food animals, and the environment in selected areas of Thailand. Methods: Samples were collected from stool specimens from adult food factory and food animal farm workers, fresh and cooked foods sold at markets, rectal swabs of healthy pigs and chickens, fresh pork meat from slaughterhouses, water samples from canals as well as fish and shrimp farm ponds, and stagnant water sources on pig farms. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the disk diffusion or agar dilution methods. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production was assayed using a double disk diffusion method. Results: Among 544 healthy adult food factory workers, 75.5% were positive for ESBL producing E. coli, while 77.3% of E. coli isolated from 30 healthy animal farm workers were positive. Amongst healthy food animals, ESBL producing status among E. coli isolates were more commonly detected in pigs (76.7%) than broilers (40%). Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli seemed to be more prevalent in fresh meat samples than in fresh vegetables, in fresh foods than in cooked foods, and in water samples collected from the animal farms than those from canals and fish and shrimp ponds. Conclusions: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli isolates are prevalent amongst healthy individuals, foods along the food production chain from farms to consumers, and in the environment in selected areas in Thailand.

Antimicrobial Resistance in ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Layer and Pig Farms in Thailand

“…The prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in fecal samples from healthy pigs (74.8%) was higher compared with healthy layers (6.7%), which was similar to the prevalence found in a previous study [1,3]. The large amount and variety of antimicrobials used on pig farms could indicate that pig farms are a common major source of resistant ESBL-producing E.…”

“…When considering geographic areas, the ESBL-producing E. coli prevalence observed in the eastern region of the country was higher than in the north, in contrast with a previous report [3]. The higher prevalence in the north could be a result of variations in study design, different local environments and/or animal production practices [3,19,23].…”

“…The higher prevalence in the north could be a result of variations in study design, different local environments and/or animal production practices [3,19,23].…”

Antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli O26, O145, and O157:H7 isolated from swine in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…Apart from the possibility of contamination of animal products by faecal materials during slaughtering and processing, the shedding of resistant organisms into the environment could ultimately lead to the transfer of resistance determinants to environmental microorganisms thus fueling the problems associated with antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, previous studies have shown that selection pressures persisting over a significant number of years could have pre-selected a population of drug-resistant strains before antibiotic use at each farm [47]. Thus, the identification of resistant isolates in the farms under study may not necessarily be the consequence of antibiotic usage in those farms, but might be related to the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents over an extended period.…”

Characterization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli Serotypes Isolated from Poultry and Humans

“…A much higher frequency (73.0 %) of isolation of E. coli was detected in 30 healthy animal farm workers elsewhere [26]. Several studies have reported the similarity of isolates of E. coli regarding the genes and antibiotic sensitivity, recovered from poultry and their human contacts [10,12].…”