Characterization ofEscherichia coliIsolates from Healthy Food Handlers in Hospital

Abstract

Recent studies have reported that Escherichia coli in fecal samples of healthy humans could also serve as important reservoirs of drug-resistant bacteria. Limited data are available for E. coli-resistant profiles of healthy food handlers in hospitals who provide food service to inpatients and hospital staffs. E. coli isolates were recovered from hospital healthy food handlers, and one random selected isolate from each food handler was subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, phylogenetic typing, and screening for antimicrobial-resistant mechanisms by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates were further characterized by mutation analysis in the quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDRs) of GyrA and ParC. And extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing isolates were screened for bla(CTX-M) by polymerase chain reaction amplification and DNA sequence analysis. In total, more than 50% (47/92) of E. coli isolates from healthy food handlers showed multidrug-resistant profiles and 50% (46/92) isolates carried intI. Resistance prevalence of the B2 phylogenetic group was significantly lower than that of the non-B2 groups for all tested antimicrobials (p < 0.05) except chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Seven isolates of phylogenetic group A (n = 3) and D (n = 4) produced ESBL, and 12 isolates of phylogenetic group A (n = 5), B2 (n = 2), and D (n = 5) were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Transferable quinolone resistance determinants were identified in four isolates. Point mutations in QRDRs of GyrA or ParC were identified among 59 out of 62 E. coli isolates showing decreased susceptibility or resistance to ciprofloxacin. Genes encoding CTX-M enzyme were identified in seven ESBL-producing isolates. The preponderance in hospital food handlers of multidrug-resistant E. coli makes it important to introduce control measures such as improved biosecurity to ensure that they do not pass through the food service and limit inpatient therapeutic options.

Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Hospital Food: A Risk Assessment

“…31 One other study has assessed ESBL-PE colonization among hospital food handlers in nonoutbreak conditions. Luo 32 The prevalence of food handler ESBL-PE colonization in our study is not significantly higher than that reported in 2 recent Swiss population-based studies: 5.8% in the healthy adults, and 5.2% in primary care patients. 33,34 However, although our results suggest that food handlers in a hospital kitchen are not at higher risk of colonization with ESBL-PE, this should not be extrapolated to the domestic environment, where food safety standards are likely to be less rigidly observed.…”

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of &lt;i&gt;Escherichia coli&lt;/i&gt; O157: H7 Serotype from Chicken Droppings Produced by Free - Ranged and Poultry Birds in Cross River, Nigeria

“…In poultry, E. coli resides in the lower digestive tract, which it colonizes in the first 24h after hatching [2]. Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a serotype of the bacterial species Escherichia coli and it is an important food borne pathogen of public health importance [3][4].…”

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 Isolated from Raw Meat Samples of Ruminants and Poultry

“…Access to hygienic and healthy food samples is an important issue particularly in Iran where basic principles of meat inspection are not applied in some slaughterhouses. Food samples with animal origin and especially meat play an important role in the transmission of foodborne pathogens to humans [5,6,7,8].…”

“…coli (E. coli) O157:H7 is an important foodborne pathogen of public health importance [5,6,7,8]. E. coli is a gram-negative, non-sporulating, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobe and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is a subdivision of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) [9,10,11].…”