title: Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Foodborne Microorganisms.
abstract: This review addresses an important public health hazard affecting food safety. Antimicrobial agents are used in foods to reduce or eliminate microorganisms that cause disease. Many traditional organic compounds, novel synthetic organic agents, natural products, peptides, and proteins have been extensively studied for their effectiveness as antimicrobial agents against foodborne Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Listeria spp. and Salmonella. However, antimicrobial resistance can develop in microorganisms, enhancing their ability to withstand the inhibiting or killing action of antimicrobial agents. Knowledge gaps still exist with regard to the actual chemical and microbiological mechanisms that must be identified to facilitate the search for new antimicrobial agents. Technical implementation of antimicrobial active packing films and coatings against target microorganisms must also be improved for extended product shelf life. Recent advances in antimicrobial susceptibility testing can provide researchers with new momentum to pursue their quest for a resistance panacea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6. edward.lai@carleton.ca.
authors.forename: Edward P C
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6.
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1S 5B6.
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Avis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008087:Listeria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents