Vegetables and Fruit as a Reservoir of β-Lactam and Colistin-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria: A Review

Widad Chelaghma (1) , Lotfi Loucif (2) , Mourad Bendahou (1) , Jean-Marc Rolain (3, 4)

1 Université Aboubekr Belkaid - University of Belkaïd Abou Bekr [Tlemcen]
2 Université Mustapha Ben Boulaid de Batna 2
3 MEPHI - Microbes évolution phylogénie et infections
4 IHU Marseille - Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée Infection

Antibacterial resistance is one of the 2019 World Health Organization’s top ten threats to public health worldwide. Hence, the emergence of β-lactam and colistin resistance among Gram-negative bacteria has become a serious concern. The reservoirs for such bacteria are increasing not only in hospital settings but in several other sources, including vegetables and fruit. In recent years, fresh produce gained important attention due to its consumption in healthy diets combined with a low energy density. However, since fresh produce is often consumed raw, it may also be a source of foodborne disease and a reservoir for antibiotic resistant Gram-negative bacteria including those producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase, cephalosporinase and carbapenemase enzymes, as well as those harboring the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (mcr) gene. This review aims to provide an overview of the currently available scientific literature on the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases, cephalosporinase, carbapenemase and mcr genes in Gram-negative bacteria in vegetables and fruit with a focus on the possible contamination pathways in fresh produce.

Mots clés: β-lactamases; mobile colistin resistance; Gram-negative bacteria; vegetables; fruit

Domaines: Bactériologie; Cardiologie et système cardiovasculaire; Maladies émergentes; Maladies infectieuses; Parasitologie; Virologie

Widad Chelaghma, Lotfi Loucif, Mourad Bendahou, Jean-Marc Rolain. Vegetables and Fruit as a Reservoir of β-Lactam and Colistin-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria: A Review. Microorganisms, 2021, 9 (12), pp.2534. ⟨10.3390/microorganisms9122534⟩. ⟨hal-03663630⟩