Human Campylobacteriosis in Italy: Emergence of Multi-Drug Resistance to Ciprofloxacin, Tetracycline, and Erythromycin.

Aurora García-Fernández,Sergio Arena,Anna M Dionisi,Yaidelys Iglesias-Torrens,Alessandra Carattoli,Ida Luzzi

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.01906

Aurora García-Fernández, Sergio Arena + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01906

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Abstract

Campylobacter spp. is one of the main cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. The increase of antibiotic resistance in this species is a threat to public health. A Campylobacter spp. surveillance study was performed in Italy in the 2013–2016 period by the Enter-Net Italia network. The most prevalent Campylobacter species identified causing gastroenteritis was Campylobacter jejuni (73.4%) and 45% of all the annual cases of campylobacteriosis were reported in the summer period. High rates of ciprofloxacin and tetracycline resistance in Campylobacter spp. have been observed. An increasing percentage of Campylobacter coli strains simultaneously resistant to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline and erythromycin has been found. Molecular mechanisms of resistance have been investigated and the role of efflux pumps evaluated. Antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter spp. is an increasing serious threat that requires coordinated action to minimize the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant strains from animals to humans throughout the food chain.

Highlights

Campylobacter spp. is considered one of the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world, and Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the most common bacterial species isolated from human stool samples (Havelaar et al, 2009; Haagsma et al, 2013; Gibbons et al, 2014; European Food Safety Authority and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2017)
From January 2013 to December 2016, 4672 records of Campylobacter spp. isolation were included in the EnterNet Italia database, representing 21% of all data collected in this period of surveillance
Among 647 (647/4672, 14%) Campylobacter spp. strains received at Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), 583 (90.1%) were classified as C. jejuni, 62 (9.6%) C. coli, 1 (0.15%) C. fetus, and 1 (0.15%) C. lari

Summary

Introduction

Campylobacter spp. is considered one of the most common cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the world, and Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the most common bacterial species isolated from human stool samples (Havelaar et al, 2009; Haagsma et al, 2013; Gibbons et al, 2014; European Food Safety Authority and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2017). In 2016, 246,307 laboratory-confirmed cases of campylobacteriosis were reported in EU with a notification rate of 66.3 per 100,000 population, 6.1% higher than in 2015 (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, European Food Safety Authority, and European Medicines Agency, 2017). HIV-positive or immunocompromised individuals normally receive antibiotic treatment if infected by Campylobacter spp. (Cha et al, 2016; European Food Safety Authority and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 2017). Other risk factors include the consumption of meat, unpasteurized milk and water, contact with animals and international travels, but very rarely human-to-human transmission is reported (Iovine, 2013)

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