Antimicrobial resistance of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from broiler chicken

Recent studies highlighted the hazard of emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR) bacteria in domesticated animals, with multidrug resistance (MRD) patterns in poultry recorded with alarming intensity as a major reservoir. This resistance has been associated with the misuse and overuse of antimicrobial agents in poultry farms. This current study aimed to determine the multidrug resistance (MDR) patterns of Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens. A total of 32 human samples were taken from worker handlers (positive: 4 samples, 12.5%), and 40 samples were collected from poultry chickens (positive: 13 samples, 32.5%). The findings revealed marked resistance against six of the ten agents in the isolates (MDR being 100% in all samples and MDRI was 0.6), with AMR observed across various antimicrobial classes, including Trimethoprim 5 µg, Tetracycline 30 µg, Cefazolin 30 µg, Amoxi-clav 30 µg, and Streptomycin 10 µg, as well as moderate resistance to Ciprofloxacin 5 µg. These results suggest a dangerous risk of transmission of AMR E. coli from poultry to humans, exhibiting a serious zoonotic risk, highlighting the urgency of antimicrobial stewardship and integrated precaution strategies with organized protocols to ensure the One Health basis and safeguard both veterinary and human medicine.