The incidence of antibiotic resistance among coliform bacteria isolated from food
Sogaard, H.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 17(3): 271-278
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-605X PMID: 1049503 Document Number: 98561
Coliform bacteria of 378 strains were isolated from specimens of commonly sold milk and food products. Klebsiella and Enterobacter spp. were predominating. Resistance to sulphonamides, streptomycin and chloramphenicol occurred in only 5, 1, and 2 strains, respectively. No tetracycline-resistant strains were found, but 202 strains (54%) were resistant to ampicillin. In genetic crosses with a sensitive strain of E. coli K 12 W 3132 transmissible R factors could not be demonstrated in any of the resistant coliform strains.It is concluded that food is not a significant source of antibiotic-resistant enteric bacteria. It may be suggested that food is a source of potentially pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, which points to the importance of strict hygienic surveillance of food production.