Chapter 9 - Antibiotic Resistance in Enterococci: A Food Safety Perspective

Abstract

Resistance to antimicrobials was observed in pathogenic bacteria soon after these drugs were first introduced into human and veterinary medicine over 70 years ago. Circumstances of emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in bacterial communities and their relation to antimicrobial use in animals and humans are still investigated; however, there is a unanimous agreement on the need for improved monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance. Enterococcus is a versatile bacterial genus that is a part of the healthy human and animal gut microbiota and some strains are used as starter cultures or probiotics. However, over past three decades enterococci have also been implicated in serious human and animal diseases. Their ability to acquire and transfer a variety of resistance traits has made enterococci indicator organisms for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Gram positive bacteria. Although not typical foodborne pathogens, enterococci have been associated with foodborne outbreaks. In this chapter, we focus on the clonal spread of enterococci in pre- and post-harvest food environment and their impact on food safety and human health.