Attachment of pathogenic bacteria to food contact surfaces and the subsequent biofilm formation represent a serious threat for the food industry, since these bacteria are more resistant to antimicrobials or possess more virulence factors. The main aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between antibiotic resistance against 13 antibiotics, distribution of 10 virulence factors and biofilm formation in 105 Escherichia coli strains according to their origin. The high prevalence of antibiotic resistance that we have found in wildlife isolates could be acquired by horizontal transfer of resistance genes from human or domestic or farm animals. Consequently, these commensal bacteria might serve as indicator of antimicrobial usage for human and veterinary purposes in the Czech Republic. Further, 46 out of 66 resistant isolates (70%) were able to form biofilm and we found out statistically significant correlation between prevalence of antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation ability. The highest prevalence of antibiotic resistance was observed in weak biofilm producers. Biofilm formation was not statistically associated with any virulence determinant. However, we confirmed the correlation between prevalence of virulence factors and host origin. Chicken isolates possessed more virulence factors (66%), than isolates from wildlife (37%). We can conclude that the potential spread of antibiotic resistance pattern via the food chain is of high concern for public health. Even more, alarming is that E. coli isolates remain pathogenic potential with ability to form biofilm and these bacteria may persist during food processing and consequently lead to greater risks of food contamination.

Chicken meat has become an important part of the human diet and besides contamination by pathogenic Escherichia coli there is a risk of antibiotic resistance spreading via the food chain. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of resistance against eight antibiotics and the presence of 14 virulence factors among 75 Escherichia coli strains isolated from chicken meat in the Czech Republic after classification into phylogenetic groups by the multiplex PCR method. More than half of strains belonged to A phylogroup, next frequently represented was B1 phylogroup, which suggests the commensal strains. The other strains were classified into phylogroups B2 and D, which had more virulence factors. Almost half of all E. coli strains were resistant to at least one of eight-tested antibiotics. A multidrug resistance was observed in 13% of strains. The most prevalent virulence genes were iucD, iss and tsh. None of genes encoding toxins was detected. Most of E. coli strains isolated from chicken meat can be considered as nonpathogenic on the basis of analysis of virulence factors, antibiotic resistance and phylogroups assignment. It can provide a useful tool for prediction of a potential risk from food contaminated by E. coli.

Vegetables are an important part of the human diet. Sometimes, contamination by pathogenic Escherichia coli can be underestimated; moreover there is a risk of antibiotic resistance spreading via the food chain. The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of Escherichia coli in fresh vegetables sold in retail market in the Czech Republic and to evaluate the risk to human health. Antibiotic resistance against 12 antibiotics, the presence of 12 virulence and 15 resistance genes were determined among 15 isolated strains. Most of tested strains belonged to B1 phylogenetic group, less frequently represented was B2 and D phylogroup. These results indicate that most strains are probably of human origin. All E. coli strains were resistant to at least one of twelve tested antibiotics. A multidrug resistance was observed in four strains. In this study, the presence of virulence factors Einv and papC and also genes encoding toxins (CNF1, CNF2) was detected. Nevertheless, none strain can be considered as STEC or EHEC. The widespread appearance of a growing trend associated with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among enterobacterial isolates is undeniable and the possibility of transfer to humans cannot be ignored. Nevertheless, these results indicate that raw vegetables sold in the retail market can constitute a potential health risk for consumers.

One strain persisted several weeks in the digestive tract, even after stopping piperacillin-tazobactam injections, leading to the hypothesis that some AB strains can authentically colonize the gut. Most of the immunocompromised mice experienced clinical signs and positive lung cultures, which were associated with positive spleen cultures, an argument in favor of bacterial translocation.