Risk factors for antimicrobial resistance among fecal Escherichia coli from residents on forty-three swine farms.
Fecal Escherichia coli (n = 555) were isolated from 115 residents on 43 farrow-to-finish swine farms to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and associated risk factors. Susceptibility to 21 antimicrobials was determined and the overall prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was 25.8%. Pair-wise difference in prevalences of resistance to individual antimicrobials was significant between isolates from residents on farms that fed medicated swine rations compared to those that did not (p = 0.013). Cross-resistance among antimicrobials of same class and multidrug-resistance were observed. Logistic regression models revealed the following risk factors positively associated with antimicrobial resistance: use of antimicrobials in pigs on farms; number of hours per week that farmers spent in their pig barns; handling of sick pigs; and intake of antimicrobials by farm residents. This study indicates that occupational exposure of farmers to resistant bacteria and use of antimicrobials in pig farming may constitute a source of resistance in humans, although the human health impacts of such resistance is unknown. The consumption of antimicrobials by farmers appeared to constitute a significant risk for resistance development. Fecal E. coli from farm residents may act as a reservoir of resistance genes for animal and/or human pathogens.
Akwar
T H
TH
Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. holy.akwar@gnb.ca
Poppe
C
C
Wilson
J
J
Reid-Smith
R J
RJ
Dyck
M
M
Waddington
J
J
Shang
D
D
Dassie
N
N
McEwen
S A
SA
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents