Transfer of antibiotic resistance between commensal and pathogenic members of the Enterobacteriaceae under ileal conditions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rate of antibiotic resistance transmission between commensal and pathogenic representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Blake
D P
DP
Centre for Microbiological Research, Veterinary Science Division, SAC, Craibstone, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK. damer.blake@bbsrc.ac.uk
Hillman
K
K
Fenlon
D R
DR
Low
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000187:drug effects; D007082:Ileum / Q000382:microbiology*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis