Evaluation of meat, fruit and vegetables from retail stores in five United Kingdom regions as sources of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli.
We determined the prevalence and types of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli in raw retail beef, chicken, pork, fruit and vegetables in five UK regions in 2013-14. Raw meat (n=397), and fruit and vegetable samples (n=400) were purchased from retail stores in London, East Anglia, North West England, Scotland and Wales. Samples were tested for the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli by plating enriched samples on CHROMagar CTX and CHROMagar ESBL, for AmpC-type E. coli by plating on "CHROMagar FOX" (CHROMagar ECC+16mg/L cefoxitin), and for carbapenem-resistant E. coli by plating on CHROMagar KPC. Additionally, pre-enrichment counts were performed on the above agars, and on CHROMagar ECC. Isolates of interest were characterised by MALDI-ToF to confirm identification, by PCR for blaCIT,blaCTX-M,blaOXA, blaSHVand blaTEMgenes; ESBL or blaCITgenes were sequenced. Only 1.9% and 2.5% of beef and pork samples, respectively were positive for ESBL-producing E. coli after enrichment compared with 65.4% of chicken samples. 85.6% positive samples from chicken meat carried blaCTX-M-1; blaCTX-M-15was not detected. None of the fruits or vegetables yielded ESBL-producing E. coli and none of the meat, fruit or vegetable samples yielded carbapenem-resistant E. coli. Retail chicken was more frequently a source of ESBL-producing E. coli than were beef, pork, fruit or vegetables. None of the foodstuffs yielded E. coli with CTX-M-15 ESBL, which dominates in human clinical isolates in the UK, and none yielded carbapenem-resistant E. coli.
Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK. Electronic address: Luke.Randall@apha.gsi.gov.uk.
L P
LP
Randall
Food, Water and Microbiology Laboratory, London, Public Health England, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
M P
MP
Lodge
Food, Water and Microbiology Laboratory, London, Public Health England, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
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NC
Elviss
Animal and Plant Health Agency (Weybridge), New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
F L
FL
Lemma
Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UK.
K L
KL
Hopkins
Animal and Plant Health Agency (Shrewsbury), Kendal Road, Shrewsbury SY1 4HD, UK.
C J
CJ
Teale
Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UK.
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N
Woodford
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D013552:Swine; D006113:United Kingdom; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology*; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015780:Carbapenems; D001618:beta-Lactamases
Beef; Carbapenem-resistant; Chicken; ESBL; Escherichia coli; Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase; Fruit; Meat; Pork; United Kingdom; Vegetables