Prevalence and Antimicrobial Characteristics of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Pork in Korea

Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolated from Food Animal Carcasses During 2010-2023 in South Korea

Antimicrobial-resistant bacterial contamination of meat poses a significant global public health risk. We aimed to determine antimicrobial resistance profiles and trends of Escherichia coli recovered from carcasses of healthy food-producing animals in South Korea during 2010-2023. In total, 4748 E. coli isolates obtained from cattle (n = 1582), pigs (n = 1572), and chickens (n = 1594) were assessed for susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials. Antimicrobial resistance was different among samples. Overall, antimicrobial resistance was high in pigs and chicken carcasses. More than about 80% of isolates from pigs and chickens exhibited resistance to one or more antimicrobials. Among the tested antimicrobials, resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, and tetracycline was significantly higher in pigs and chickens compared with cattle (p < 0.05). Moreover, chicken isolates showed much higher resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin than other samples. Resistance to critically important antimicrobials, colistin, remained less than about 1%, while resistance to ceftiofur showed increased trends in pig and chicken samples. Higher multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates were identified in chickens and pigs compared with cattle (p < 0.05). Furthermore, most MDR patterns include streptomycin and tetracycline resistance. MDR E. coli contaminating meat during slaughter can be transmitted to humans via the food chain. Thus, prudent use of antimicrobials and proper hygienic practices are urgently needed to reduce the risk of transmission.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria from Meat and Meat Products: A One Health Perspective

According to the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations, one of the sustainable development goals is to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. The need to ensure food safety includes, other than microbiological hazards, concerns with antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria. The emergence of resistant bacteria in the food industry is essentially due to the abusive, and sometimes incorrect, administration of antimicrobials. Although not allowed in Europe, antimicrobials are often administered to promote animal growth. Each time antimicrobials are used, a selective pressure is applied to AMR bacteria. Moreover, AMR genes can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of meat-harbouring-resistant bacteria, which highlights the One Health dimension of antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, the appropriate use of antimicrobials to ensure efficacy and the best possible outcome for the treatment of infections is regulated through the recommendations of antimicrobial stewardship. The present manuscript aims to give the current state of the art about the transmission of AMR bacteria, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp., along with other ESKAPE bacteria, from animals to humans through the consumption of meat and meat products, with emphasis on pork meat and pork meat products, which are considered the most consumed worldwide.

Prevalence of Escherichia coli generic and pathogenic in pork meat: systematic review and meta-analysis

This research aimed to analyze scientific information regarding the prevalence of generic and pathogenic E. coli in the production and supply chain of pork meat, considering different types of samples, places of sampling, and pathotypes using a systematic review and meta-analysis tools. The meta-analysis for the prevalence of generic and pathogenic E. coli was conducted by estimating the effects within subgroups. Data subsets were analyzed using the DerSimonian-Laird method for binary random effects. The average prevalence of generic E. coli in different types of pork meat samples was determined to be 35.6% (95% CI 19.3-51.8), with no significant differences observed between pork meat and carcasses. Conversely, the average prevalence of E. coli pathotypes in samples related to the supply chain of pork meat was found to be 4.7% (95% CI 3.7-5.7). In conclusion, these findings suggest the possibility of establishing an objective threshold for E. coli prevalence as a benchmark for comparison within the meat industry. By utilizing this data, it becomes possible to propose a standardized limit that can serve as a reference point for evaluating and improving processes in the industry.

The Importance of the Slaughterhouse in Surveilling Animal and Public Health: A Systematic Review

From the point of public health, the objective of the slaughterhouse is to guarantee the safety of meat in which meat inspection represent an essential tool to control animal diseases and guarantee the public health. The slaughterhouse can be used as surveillance center for livestock diseases. However, other aspects related with animal and human health, such as epidemiology and disease control in primary production, control of animal welfare on the farm, surveillance of zoonotic agents responsible for food poisoning, as well as surveillance and control of antimicrobial resistance, can be monitored. These controls should not be seen as a last defensive barrier but rather as a complement to the controls carried out on the farm. Regarding the control of diseases in livestock, scientific research is scarce and outdated, not taking advantage of the potential for disease control. Animal welfare in primary production and during transport can be monitored throughout ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse, providing valuable individual data on animal welfare. Surveillance and research regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) at slaughterhouses is scarce, mainly in cattle, sheep, and goats. However, most of the zoonotic pathogens are sensitive to the antibiotics studied. Moreover, the prevalence at the slaughterhouse of zoonotic and foodborne agents seems to be low, but a lack of harmonization in terms of control and communication may lead to underestimate its real prevalence.