Abstract
Abstract The use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals can lead to increased bacterial resistance. Important information to address this problem can be provided by monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne pathogens. As part of preliminary activities for the implementation of AMR surveillance in Brazil, a nationwide survey on AMR in Salmonella enterica isolates from poultry meat was conducted. The survey evaluated 146 Salmonella isolates from poultry meat in 2014, and 163 isolates obtained in 2017. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of 13 antimicrobials were determined by broth microdilution, and isolates were assigned to serotypes by automated ribotyping. High resistance rates were found in 2014 and 2017, in particular to nalidixic acid (84/146, 57.5% and 141/163, 86.5%, respectively), ampicillin (82/146, 56.2% and 125/163, 76.7%), cefotaxime (76/146, 52.1% and 124/163, 76.1%), ceftazidime (73/146, 50.0% and 124/163, 76.1%), ciprofloxacin (83/146, 56.9% and 145/163, 89.0%) and tetracycline (88/146, 60.3% and 135/163, 82.8%). There was a significant increase in resistance to these antibiotics in the second survey period. Salmonella ser. Heidelberg and Salmonella ser. Minnesota were the main serotypes expressing resistance to these antimicrobials. Multidrug resistance was found in 50.7% (74/146) of the isolates from 2014, and in 77.3% (126/163) of isolates from 2017 (P < 0.05). None of the isolates was resistant to azithromycin or meropenem. These findings indicate high and increasing rates of resistance among Salmonella from poultry meat in Brazil, mainly associated with Salmonella ser. Heidelberg and Salmonella ser. Minnesota, stressing the importance of continuous monitoring of AMR in the poultry chain.
Highlights
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a problem of increasing public health concern worldwide, as antibiotics are among the most prescribed classes of drugs in human medicine
The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in food-producing animals can lead to bacterial resistance, which can be transmitted to humans through three distinct ways: (i) by direct contact between humans and animals; (ii) through preparation and consumption of contaminated food, and (iii) indirectly, due to the excretion of resistant bacteria and unmetabolised antibiotics by animals, thereby causing additional selective pressure in the environment [3]
Considering that Brazil is the second largest producer of poultry meat in the world (13 245 million tons) and exports approximately 32% of its production to the international market [8], we have investigated the serotype distribution and AMR of Salmonella isolates recovered from this production chain in Brazil, in two different years, 2014 and 2017, to identify possible trends or changes over this period
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a problem of increasing public health concern worldwide, as antibiotics are among the most prescribed classes of drugs in human medicine. They are largely used for therapy of a wide range of infections in animals and as prophylactic agents to prevent the development of infections in herds, as well as growth promoters in healthy livestock. Such extensive usage has been widely implicated in the selection of bacterial resistance [1]. It is very important to include the food production chain in surveillance programmes on AMR, to provide information that enables the adoption of measures of prevention and control of AMR in this sector
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
