Abstract
The surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among humans and food-producing animals is important to monitor the zoonotic transmission of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB). We assessed the prevalence of four MDRB within the meat production chain, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing, carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) and colistin-resistant Enterobacterales (Col-E), as well as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). In total, 505 samples from four stages of meat production, i.e., slaughterhouses, meat-processing plants, fresh food products and the urban environment, were collected in northwestern Germany in 2018/2019 and screened for the presence of MDRB using both culture-based and PCR-based techniques. We detected genes encoding for carbapenemases in 9–56% (blaOXA-48, blaKPC, blaNDM, blaVIM) and colistin resistance-encoding mcr genes in 9–26% of the samples from all stages. Culture-based analysis found CPE and VRE only in environmental samples (11% and 7%, respectively), but Col-E and ESBL-producers in 1–7% and 12–46% of samples from all stages, respectively. Overall, our results showed that ESBL-producers and mcr-carrying Col-E were common in food-producing animals at slaughterhouses, in meat-processing plants and in food items at retail, while CPE and VRE were only found in the environment. The discrepancy between detected carbapenemase genes and isolated CPE emphasizes the need for more sensitive detection methods for CPE monitoring.
Highlights
The growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB), which are commonly understood as bacteria with a non-susceptibility to three or more classes of antibiotics [1], is one of the major global threats for human and animal healthcare and wellbeing
These programs are based on the detection of (i) foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella spp.), which are subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST); (ii) defined MDRB using selective culture-based
505 samples from the different stages of the meat production chain and the urban environment were screened for the presence of ESBL/AmpC-producing Enterobacterales, colistin-resistant Enterobacterales (Col-E), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) (Figure 1)
Summary
The growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB), which are commonly understood as bacteria with a non-susceptibility to three or more classes of antibiotics [1], is one of the major global threats for human and animal healthcare and wellbeing. Antibiotics 2020, 9, 708 among bacteria from humans and food-producing animals as well as the analysis of molecular typing data to monitor their transmission are important to understand and combat the spread of MDRB. To address this issue, programs for the monitoring of MDRB in food-producing animals have been established in the European Union (EU). Programs for the monitoring of MDRB in food-producing animals have been established in the European Union (EU) These programs are based on the detection of (i) foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella spp.), which are subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST);. CPE were only occasionally detected [7], while Col-E were found in 26% of the pig farms in 2011/2012 [8]
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.
