title: First study of Salmonella in meat in Romania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates is of major public health concern, but information regarding these aspects is still lacking in Romania. This study focused on a detailed and accurate investigation concerning prevalence, serotypes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella strains, isolated from pork and chicken meat, collected from all regions of Romania in 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research was conducted on 650 samples of chicken and pork meat collected from production units and retail markets located in various regions of Romania. A total of 149 Salmonella isolates were recovered (22.92%), serotyped, confirmed by PCR, and further tested for antimicrobial susceptibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen Salmonella serovars were identified; predominant serovars included Infantis, Typhimurium, Derby and Colindale. Multiple resistance was found in 83.22% (n = 124) of the isolates. The isolates were frequently resistant to tetracycline (80.53%), streptomycin (81.21%), sulfamethoxazole (87.25%), nalidixic acid (65.10%), and ciprofloxacin (42.95%). Additionally, a markedly lower resistance rate was observed for ampicillin (20.81%), chloramphenicol (16.78%), and ceftazidime (11.41%). Among 137 resistant Salmonella isolates, 35 different resistance patterns were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of Salmonella spp. and a relatively high resistance rate to multiple antimicrobials was found. This data indicates that chicken and pork meat could constitute a source of human exposure to multidrug-resistant Salmonella and therefore could be considered a potential vehicle of resistant Salmonella foodborne diseases. Further actions are needed to succesfully implement a national surveillance program for better monitoring of these resistant pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. liora30@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Liora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mihaiu
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapusan
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanasuica
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sobolu
authors.forename: Romolica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mihaiu
authors.forename: Ovidiu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oniga
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mihaiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012383:Romania; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012703:Serotyping; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents