Journal of Drug Metabolism & Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2157-7609
+44-20-4587-4809
ISSN: 2157-7609
+44-20-4587-4809
Nahla Omer Ahmed Eltai
Qatar University, Qatar
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Drug Metab Toxicol
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health concern worldwide and is one of the top health challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. AMR among Enterobacteriaceae is rapidly increasing especially to third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. Further, strains carrying mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes 1 and 2 have been isolated from humans, food-producing animals, and environment. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics in animals in large scale could be one of the major contributing factors to generation and spread of antibiotic resistance. No studies have been done to evaluate antimicrobial resistance in animals in Qatar. This study aimed at establishing a primary baseline data for prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among food animals in Qatar. 172 fecal samples were obtained from two broiler farms and one live bird market in Qatar and 90 Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria were isolated and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using Etest method. 90% (81/90) of the isolates were resistant to at least one of the 16 tested antibiotics. 15.5% (14/90) of the isolates were colistin resistant, 2.2% (2/90) were extended spectrum �?² lactamase (ESBL) producers and similar percentages were multi-drug resistant (MDR) to four antibiotic classes. ESBL-producing E. coli and colistin resistant isolates were confirmed using double disc susceptibility testing and PCR, respectively. In Summary, Our results indicate high antimicrobial resistance in food producing animals in Qatar, including ESBL and colistin resistance. Such AMR bacteria could be easily transmitted to humans through consumption of undercooked food or noncompliance with hygiene practices, which mandates prompt development and implementation of stewardship program to control and monitor the use of antimicrobial agents in community and agriculture.
Nahla Omer Ahmed Eltai has completed her PhD from Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. She did Postdoctoral studies from University of the West of England, UK. She is Research Associate at Biomedical Research Centre, Qatar University. She has published many papers in the field of Antibiotic Resistance. Her research interests are multidisciplinary with emphasis on molecular diagnostic approaches, antimicrobial susceptibility & resistance, test of new natural antimicrobial agents. She is adopting the one health system approach by studying antimicrobial resistance in agriculture, environment and human in Qatar.
Email: nahla.eltai@qu.edu.qa