Profile and Antibiotic Resistance Genes of Escherichia c oli Strains Isolated from Ready-to-Eat Raw Mixed Vegetables Salads in Collective Catering in Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire

Abstract

In recent years many cases of food poisoning due to the consumption of vegetable salads contaminated with antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli have been reported. The objective of the study was to detect the profile and the genetic factors of antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli, isolated from ready-to-eat raw mixed vegetable salads, in catering. A total of 218 E. coli strains isolated from salads were confirmed by identification of iudA gene. Antibiotic resistance profile was determined by the agar diffusion method and by the detection of resistance genetic supports. Prevalence of E. coli resistant to antibiotics in vegetable salads was 70.2% with 28.4% of multi-resistant. Antibiotic resistance particularly concerned tetracycline (52.3%), streptomycin (38.5%) and to a lesser extent, nalidixic acid (15.6%). The genes aaa [3] -IV, CIMT, QnrA, tetA, tetB, cmlA and cat1 respectively conferring resistance to gentamicin, ampicillin, quinolones, tetracycline and chloramphenicol were highlighted. The study reveals that the risk of contamination by strains of E. coli resistant to antibiotics exist and require healthy control measures.