Investigation of ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Presence, Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Production Ability in Chicken Meat in Istanbul

Multiple-drug resistance (MDR) complicates the treatment of E. coli infections. Food is an important carrier for the spread and infection of MDR E. coli. Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing E. coli is included in the list of priority pathogens to be considered in 2024 published by WHO. In this study, the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli, antibiotic resistance patterns and biofilm production capacity were measured in raw chicken meat obtained from Istanbul (n=208). 48.5% (101/208) E. coli isolates were detected via PCR and multiple antibiotic resistance was detected in 79.2% of E. coli isolates. The highest resistance was observed against amoxicillin clavulanic acid, ampicillin and tetracycline. In addition, all isolates were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam. In total, 17.8% of E. coli isolates were found to produce phenotypically ESBL. ESBL genes were investigated via the mPCR method; bla_TEM (97.02%), bla_{CTX- M} (45.5%), bla_SHV (9.9%) and bla_OXA-2 (0.9%) were observed. In the study, 34% of E. coli isolates were resistant to carbapenem, as observed via disc diffusion. Carbapenem resistance genes (bla_VIM, bla_OXA-48, bla_NDM and bla_KPC) were analyzed via mPCR, and no related genes were found. The PCR method was used to investigate colistin resistance, and the mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4, mcr-4, mcr-5, mcr-6, mcr-7, and mcr-8 genes were not observed. The biofilm production capacity of the isolates was measured using the microplate method on Tryptone Soya broth (TSB) containing 1% sucrose, TSB containing 0.6% yeast extract, brain heart infusion broth, nutrient broth and LB broth. The highest biofilm production was detected in TSB with 1% sucrose at a rate of 43.5%. E. coli isolates producing multiple-antibiotic resistance and biofilms through foods threaten public health, and this study highlights the significance of food safety.