Dados do Trabalho

Título

IMPACTS OF PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIALIZATION ON THE PRESENCE OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANT BACTERIA IN THE OYSTER SUPPLY CHAIN

Introdução

Oysters are fresh foods often consumed in natura, where the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria represents a health problem directly impacting the quality of these products. In this way, the objective of this work was to conduct microbiological surveillance in the oyster supply chain.

Material e Métodos

During summer and winter, samples of one liter of sea water and 15 adult oysters were collected from oyster farmers located in the north bay (n=3) and south bay (n=3) of Florianópolis/SC, as well as from the establishments (restaurants and fish markets) where these producers supply. Water samples were filtered through 0.45 μm membranes, and oyster were homogenized. Aliquots from each enrichment medium were then added to selective pressure media with different classes of antibiotics.

Resultados e Discussão

In total, 175 bacteria with antimicrobial resistance profiles were isolated. Of these, 49 were isolated directly from seawater, 62 from oysters collected directly from the sea, and 64 from commercially available oysters. Regarding the oysters collected directly from the sea, 17 resistant isolates were obtained from the North Bay, representing seven different bacterial species, where Escherichia coli was the most prevalent specie (52.94%). Among these, 5.88% were classified as multidrug-resistant, and 29.41% exhibited the Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) phenotype. From commercial oysters supplied by producers in the same region, 20 isolates from eight different species were collected, being E. coli the most frequent specie (55%), where 10% were multidrug-resistant, and 45% exhibited the ESBL phenotype. In the South Bay, 45 resistant isolates from 10 species were collected from sea oysters, with E. coli being the most prevalent (44.44%). Among these isolates, 48.88% were multidrug-resistant, and 46.66% exhibited the ESBL phenotype. Additionally, 44 resistant isolates from 13 different species were obtained from the oysters supplied by these producers, with E. coli being the most frequent species (67.31%), of which 54.54% were multidrug-resistant, and 52.27% exhibited the ESBL phenotype.

Conclusão

Our results demonstrate that oysters concentrate contaminants from the water, which remain in the oysters until they reach final consumers. The number of antimicrobial-resistant isolates is more influenced by water quality during production than by storage or handling itself.