Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant <i>E. coli</i> Strains in a Local Farm and Packing Facilities of Honeydew Melon in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Pathogenic strains of <i>Escherichia coli</i> threaten public health due to their virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the virulence of this bacterium varies by region depending on environmental conditions, agricultural practices, and the use of antibiotics and disi...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Book |
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MDPI AG,
2022-12-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | Pathogenic strains of <i>Escherichia coli</i> threaten public health due to their virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. Additionally, the virulence of this bacterium varies by region depending on environmental conditions, agricultural practices, and the use of antibiotics and disinfectants. However, there is limited research on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant <i>E. coli</i> in agriculture. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance of <i>E. coli</i> isolated from the Honeydew melon production system in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Thirty-two <i>E. coli</i> strains were isolated from 445 samples obtained from irrigation water, harvested melons, the hands of packaging workers, boxes, and discarded melons. The resistance profile of the <i>E. coli</i> strains was carried out to 12 antibiotics used in antimicrobial therapeutics against this bacterium; a high level of resistance to ertapenem (100%) was detected, followed by meropenem (97%), and ampicillin (94%); 47% of the strains were classified as multidrug-resistant. It was possible to identify the prevalence of the extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBLs) gene <i>bla<sub>TEM</sub></i> (15.6%), as well as the non-ESBL genes <i>qepA</i> (3.1%) and <i>aac(6')lb-cr</i> (3.1%). The <i>E. coli</i> strains isolated from irrigation water were significantly associated with resistance to aztreonam, cefuroxime, amikacin, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Irrigation water, packing workers' hands, and discarded melons showed a higher prevalence of antibiotic-resistant, ESBL, and non-ESBL genes of <i>E. coli</i> strains in a farm and packing facility of Honeydew melon in Hermosillo, Sonora. |
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| Item Description: | 10.3390/antibiotics11121789 2079-6382 |