Widespread dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing, multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in livestock and fishery products in Vietnam

Background Widespread dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria is a threat to public health. Since livestock products are possible reservoirs of ESBL-producing bacteria, food-borne dissemination of ESBL-producing bacteria and the characteristics of such organisms in food products should be assessed to evaluate potential sources of contamination. Results A total of 253 food samples from poultry, pork, shrimp, and fish were collected from local markets in a rural area of Vietnam from 2013 to 2014. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli were isolated from these samples, and their ESBL genotypes, phylogenetic groups, and antibiotic resistance profiles were assessed. Overall, a high percentage (68.4 %) of the food samples was contaminated with ESBL-producing E. coli , and samples from livestock and fishery products showed similar levels of contamination. The ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from the food samples harbored genes of the CTX-M-1, CTX-M-9, and TEM groups. Analysis of the antibiotic resistance profiles of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from the food samples showed a high degree of multidrug resistance. The prevalence of extensively multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli that were resistant to at least five antibiotic drug classes in poultry, pork, shrimp, and fish samples, was 92.1, 69, 56.5, and 62.5 %, respectively. Conclusions The results of this study confirmed the widespread dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli in both livestock and fishery products from a rural area in Vietnam. The high prevalence of extensively multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli in food products highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of food products for the presence of these bacteria, particularly in underdeveloped countries.