Antimicrobial Resistant Escherichia coli Strains Isolated From Food Animals in Pakistan

Antimicrobial resistance among Enterobacteriaceae is an increasing problem in human and veterinary medicine. Resistance profile of Sulphamethoxazole-Trimethoprim combination, Trimethoprim alone, Ciprofloxacin, Nalidixic acid, Cefotaxime, Ceftazedime, Ampicillin and Nitrofurantoin was investigated among E. coli isolates on the basis of phenotypic and genotypic evaluation of Escherichia coli isolates from food animals. The results showed that E. coli isolates resistant to Sulphamethoxazole-Trimethoprim were associated with class I integron of characteristic sizes. In addition the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genotypes sul1 and sul2 was studied in Sulphamethoxazole-Trimethoprim resistant isolates from food animals. Prevalence of class I Integrons, sul1 and sul2 in resistant commensal E. coli isolates of food animals is a serious public health concern. The changing spectrums of microorganisms in terms of their antibiotic resistance patterns require continuous monitoring of the environment.