title: Prevalence and characterization of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in ready-to-eat vegetables.
abstract: The objective of this investigation was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables. A total of 189 RTE vegetable samples (91 sprouts and 98 mixed salads) were collected in a retail market in South Korea from October 2012 to February 2013. The prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae was 10.1%. Of these, 94.7% were from the sprout samples. All isolates were resistant to cefotaxime, and many of the ESBL producers were also resistant to non-β-lactam antibiotics, including gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin (73.7%, 63.2%, and 26.3% respectively). TEM-1, SHV-1, -2, -11, -12, -27, -28 and -61, and CTX-M-14, -15 and -55 β-lactamases were detected alone or in combination. The genetic platforms of all CTX-M producing isolates were ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-orf477 and ISEcp1-blaCTX-M-IS903 in CTX-M groups 1 and 9, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the prevalence and characterization of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolated from RTE vegetables. The results of this study indicate that RTE vegetables, sprouts, in particular, may play a role in spreading antimicrobial resistant bacteria and ESBL genes to humans.
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Whan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hyeon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Gangnam Agro-Fishery Products Inspection Center, Seoul Metropolitan Government Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Mu-sang
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: KU Center for Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: bracstu3@konkuk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kun-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Seo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001618:beta-Lactamases
keywords: ESBLs; Escherichia coli; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Prevalence; RTE-vegetables