Food Is Reservoir of MDR Salmonella : Prevalence of ESBLs Profiles and Resistance Genes in Strains Isolated from Food

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) 2022-04, Vol.10 (4), p.780
• Main Authors: Gambino, Delia, Gargano, Valeria, Butera, Gaspare, Sciortino, Sonia, Pizzo, Mariangela, Oliveri, Giuseppa, Cardamone, Cinzia, Piraino, Chiara, Cassata, Giovanni, Vicari, Domenico, Costa, Antonella
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Bacteria; Communication; COVID-19; ESBLs; Food contamination & poisoning; food pathogens; Foodborne diseases; Genes; Meat; Poultry; resistance gene; S. Infantis; Salmonella; β Lactamase
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040780

spp. are among the most frequent causes of foodborne diseases, and the increasing occurrence of MDR strains is an additional cause for concern. In the three-year period 2019-2021, we collected spp. strains isolated from different food categories analysed in the context of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 in order to assess their antibiotic susceptibility profiles and ESBL production. To determine the susceptibility profiles and identify MDR strains, we used the Kirby-Bauer method to test 17 antibiotics. Double-disc and PCR testing then allowed us to assess the production of ESBLs and the presence of beta-lactamase resistance genes. Phenotypic tests showed that 36 out of 67 strains were MDR and 52.7% of these were ESBL producers. Finally, molecular investigations conducted on ESBL-producing strains revealed the presence of , and genes. Our results confirmed the prevalence of , an MDR strain and ESBL producer, in chicken meat. This suggests that further research on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in foodborne strains is needed, especially from a One Health perspective.