Clinical isolates of E.coli in pigs - antimicrobial resistance and perspectives to optimize antibiotic administration

Abstract

Modern livestock production inevitably involves the use of antimicro-bial drugs. Adequate use thereof depends on the application of appropri-ate biosecurity measures and timely and accurate diagnostics of diseases. Administration of antimicrobial drugs without previous identifi cation of “zootechnical issues” or relevant laboratory analyses may lead to the devel-opment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Surveillance and monitoring of AMR is conducted according to prescribed procedures and includes sam-pling at slaughter line. Development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and occurrence of resistance gene may be a result of inadequate use of antibiot-ics and uncontrolled trading of antibiotics. In this research, we monitored the presence of specifi c bacterial species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceaefamily and their sensitivity to particular antibiotics in diverse animal cat-egories on pig farms over the breeding period. Th e aim of the study was to establish the following: development of antimicrobial resistance by isolated bacteria, resistance to several diverse groups of antibiotics, and potential al-ternatives to antibiotics in the cases when therapy is required. Th e research confi rmed the development of AMR during pig production process, which is oft en manifested as multiple resistance (group of penicillin and synthetic penicillin drugs, aminoglycosides, fl uoroquinolones, tetracyclines).