Abstract
Aim: To determine the rate of antibiotic resistance transmission between commensal and pathogenic representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae.
Methods and Results: Through the use of a validated in vitro simulation of the porcine ileum, the transmission of antibiotic resistance was detected between commensal Escherichia coli , E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. Countable transconjugant populations arose readily and, in one example, proved capable of indefinite persistence.
Conclusions: Genetic material conferring antibiotic resistance is readily transmissible between members of the Enterobacteriaceae under ileal conditions. Recipient phenotype influences the persistence of multi-resistant transconjugants.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The observation that the conjugal transmission of antibiotic resistance is commonplace under ileal conditions impacts primarily on the risk of food contamination by multi-resistant bacteria. The establishment of a multi-resistant transconjugant population as a dominant member of the microflora maintains a genetic reservoir of antimicrobial resistance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 428-436 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Applied Microbiology |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |