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

Abstract

We collected 572 samples from dairy farms, including rectal feces, manure, feed, and water. We isolated and identified extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)- Klebsiella spp. and conducted an antimicrobial susceptibility test and analyzed different variables that may be associated with ESBL- Klebsiella spp. in dairy farms. The results of our study shed light on how ESBL- Klebsiella 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- Klebsiella 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- Enterobacteriaceae infections and designing appropriate control measures to prevent their spread from food animal production systems to humans, animals, and environments.