Antimicrobial resistance and prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing <i>Klebsiella</i> species in East Tennessee dairy farms

We collected 572 samples from dairy farms, including rectal feces, manure, feed, and water. We isolated and identified extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-<i>Klebsiella</i> spp. and conducted an antimicrobial susceptibility test and analyzed different variables that may be associated with ESBL-<i>Klebsiella</i> spp. in dairy farms. The results of our study shed light on how ESBL-<i>Klebsiella</i> spp. are maintained through fecal-oral routes in dairy farms and possibly exit from the farm into the environment. We determine the prevalence of ESBL-<i>Klebsiella</i> spp. and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, underscoring their potential as a vehicle for multiple resistance gene dissemination within dairy farm settings. We also collected data on variables affecting their occurrence and spread in dairy farms. These findings have significant implications in determining sources of community-acquired ESBL-<i>Enterobacteriaceae</i> infections and designing appropriate control measures to prevent their spread from food animal production systems to humans, animals, and environments.