Microbial Contamination and Antibiotic Resistance in Fresh Produce and Agro-Ecosystems in South Asia-A Systematic Review

• Published in: Microorganisms (Basel) 2024-11, Vol.12 (11), p.2267
• Main Authors: Kalpana, Pachillu, Yasobant, Sandul, Saxena, Deepak, Schreiber, Christiane
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural ecology; Agricultural ecosystems; Agricultural practices; Agriculture; Antibiotic resistance; antibiotic-resistant bacteria; antibiotic-resistant genes; Antibiotics; Antimicrobial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Bacteria; Bacterial infections; Boolean; Consumption; Contamination; Crop diseases; Drug resistance; Drug resistance in microorganisms; E coli; Ecosystems; Escherichia coli; Food; Food contamination; Food contamination & poisoning; Food safety; Food supply; Foodborne pathogens; fresh produce; Fruits; Gene transfer; Global health; Harvest; Infections; Keywords; Klebsiella; Listeria monocytogenes; Livestock; Microbial contamination; Microorganisms; pathogen; Pathogens; Public awareness; Public health; Review; Reviews; Safety and security measures; Salmonella; Search strategies; soil; Staphylococcus; Supply chains; Surveillance; Systematic review; Value chain; Vegetables; water
• ISSN: 2076-2607; 2076-2607
• DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12112267

Fresh produce prone to microbial contamination is a potential reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), posing challenges to food safety and public health. This systematic review aims to comprehensively assess the prevalence of bacterial pathogens and the incidence of ARB/ARGs in fresh produce and agro-ecosystems across South Asia. Twenty-two relevant studies published between 2012 and 2022 from three major scientific databases and the grey literature were identified. The results revealed a wide occurrence of microbial contamination in various types of fresh produce across South Asia, with a predominance of (16/22), spp. (13/22), spp. (5/22), and spp. (4/22). The agro-ecosystem serves as a complex interface for microbial interactions; studies have reported the prevalence of (1/4), spp. (1/4) and (1/4) in farm environment samples. A concerning prevalence of ARB has been reported, with resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. The presence of ARGs in fresh produce underscores the potential for gene transfer and the emergence of resistant pathogens. To conclude, our review provides insights into the requirements of enhanced surveillance, collaborative efforts, implementation of good agricultural practices, and public awareness for food safety and safeguarding public health in the region.