Speakers
Description
Background: Poultry meat is one of the most consumed protein sources worldwide, but it also serves as a potential reservoir for foodborne pathogens such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). The presence of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in poultry poses significant risks to food safety, public health, and the effective treatment of diseases.
Objective: This study aims to investigate the presence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of E. coli from poultry meat.
Methods: A total of 53 archived poultry meat samples obtained from the FDA were cultured on MacConkey agar, and suspected colonies were sub-cultured on Nutrient agar. Further identification was done using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to the CLSI 2024 guidelines.
Key findings: Isolates showed high-level resistance to tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, ampicillin, and ciprofloxacin while isolates showed high susceptibility to meropenem and ceftazidime. Isolates showed resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, although extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) was not confirmed in any of them. Some isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR), meaning they were resistant to three or more antibiotic classes. Statistical analysis (chi-square test) confirmed a significant association between antibiotic type and susceptibility result (p > 0.0001). Implications: These findings highlight the public health impact of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in poultry meat, with potential risks of treatment failure and the spread of resistance through the food chain. This study emphasizes the importance of enforcing proper guidelines for the appropriate use of antibiotics in poultry production, as well as continuous monitoring of antimicrobial resistance.
Key words: Escherichia coli, poultry meat, antimicrobial resistance, ESBL, Multi-drug resistance