Antimicrobial Resistance in Isolates from Humans and Food Animals

Prevalence of multidrug resistance in Escherichia coli increased from 7% to 64% during the 5-decade study period and was more frequent in animal than in human isolates.

Antibiotic use is the primary force driving the increase in resistance. To assess changes in resistance rates over time, investigators conducted a retrospective study of Escherichia coli isolates recovered from human and animal specimens submitted between 1950 and 2002 to the E. coli Reference Center and the CDC from public health and veterinary diagnostic laboratories in multiple states. Of 1729 isolates, 983 were from humans and 746 were from cattle, pigs, and chickens. The isolates were tested for susceptibility to 15 antimicrobial drugs.

Overall, 65% of human isolates and 20% of animal isolates were susceptible to all tested drug classes. Multidrug resistance (i.e., resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) was found in >50% of isolates fr…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine