Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli O26, O103, O111, O128, and O145 from Animals and Humans

• Main Authors: Carl M. Schroeder, Jianghong Meng, Shaohua Zhao, Chitrita DebRoy, Jocelyn Torcolini, Cuiwei Zhao, Patrick F. McDermott, David D. Wagner, Robert D. Walker, David G. White
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2002-12-01
• Series: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Escherichia coli; E. coli; antimicrobial resistance; Shiga toxin; STEC; United States
• Online Access: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/8/12/02-0070_article
• ISSN: 1080-6040; 1080-6059

Susceptibilities to fourteen antimicrobial agents important in clinical medicine and agriculture were determined for 752 Escherichia coli isolates of serotypes O26, O103, O111, O128, and O145. Strains of these serotypes may cause urinary tract and enteric infections in humans and have been implicated in infections with Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC). Approximately 50% of the 137 isolates from humans were resistant to ampicillin, sulfamethoxazole, cephalothin, tetracycline, or streptomycin, and approximately 25% were resistant to chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Approximately 50% of the 534 isolates from food animals were resistant to sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, or streptomycin. Of 195 isolates with STEC-related virulence genes, approximately 40% were resistant to sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, or streptomycin. Findings from this study suggest antimicrobial resistance is widespread among E. coli O26, O103, O111, O128, and O145 inhabiting humans and food animals.