Antimicrobial Resistance of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Causing Human Illness

Escherichia coli is usually a commensal bacterium of humans and animals. Pathogenic variants cause intestinal and extra intestinal infections, including gastroenteritis, urinary tract infection, meningitis, peritonitis and septicemia. Nowadays, the worldwide concern on the spread of this bacterium is mainly connected to the resistance phenomenon. This research was conducted in order to reveal antimicrobial resistance patterns in Escherichia coli, causing human illness. A total of 30 Escherichia coli isolates were recovered from patients hospitalized with food-borne infections, during June 2013-May 2014. The majority of the patients declared the consumption of undercooked meat products (especially beef), raw milk and soft cheeses. The isolates were tested through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identi ication and con irmation of pathogenicity and further, for antimicrobial susceptibility to 26 antimicrobials, using the classical disk diffusion method. All isolates were Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). All isolates proved to be resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Resistance was most frequently observed to ampicillin, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, cefepime and nor loxacin. Our indings demonstrate that Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli recovered from hospitalized patients and presumably of animal origin is highly resistant to critically important antimicrobials for human medicine. These data support the ongoing concern regarding antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use in veterinary and human medicine and nevertheless, the problem of antimicrobial resistance in the food chain.