Fluoroquinolone resistance in campylobacter.
Campylobacter is a commensal in poultry, and therefore, poultry and poultry products are major sources of Campylobacter infections in humans. Fluoroquinolones inhibit the growth of Campylobacter and other microorganisms by binding to bacterial DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV. These enzymes are associated with bacterial transcription, replication, and chromosome condensation and segregation. Selection pressure in the presence of fluoroquinolones rapidly leads to resistance in Campylobacter, due to the selection for mutations in DNA gyrase. Fluoroquinolone-resistant campylobacters have been found in poultry feces and carcasses, and in retail poultry meat products in most areas of the world. In addition, other food animals and the meat products from those animals have been shown contaminated with fluoroquinolone-resistant campylobacters. Even the removal of fluoroquinolones from use in treating animal diseases has not entirely eliminated the presence of resistant Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from animals and animal products. Human exposure to Campylobacter infection could be reduced by using strategies that decrease colonization of chickens by the pathogen.
Microbial Food Safety Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 600 East Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038-8598, USA. James.Smith@ars.usda.gov
James L
JL
Smith
Pina M
PM
Fratamico
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000235:genetics; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D027081:DNA Gyrase