Bacteria from Animals as a Pool of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

Abstract

Antimicrobial agents are used in both veterinary and human medicine. The intensive use of antimicrobials in animals may promote the fixation of antimicrobial resistance genes in bacteria, which may be zoonotic or capable to transfer these genes to human-adapted pathogens or to human gut microbiota via direct contact, food or the environment. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the use of antimicrobial agents in animal health and explores the role of bacteria from animals as a pool of antimicrobial resistance genes for human bacteria. This review focused in relevant examples within the ESC(K)APE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile (Klebsiella pneumoniae), Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteriaceae) group of bacterial pathogens that are the leading cause of nosocomial infections throughout the world.

Keywords: cfr; mcr; mec.

Figure 1

Interactions between groups. Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria can spread to humans either by the food supply, direct contact with food or companion animals or, more indirectly, through environmental pathways, including waterways, soils and vegetables contaminated with human or animals waste, and vectors such as rodents, insects, and birds. Based on da Costa et al. [8] and McEwen et al. [9] with modifications.