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Resistance to beta-lactam antimicrobials caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms is a global health concern. The objectives of this study were to (1) summarise the prevalence of potential ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) and Salmonella spp. (ESBL-SA) isolates from agrifood and human sources in Canada from 2012 to 2017, and (2) describe the distribution of ESBL genotypes among these isolates. All data were obtained from the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS). CIPARS analysed samples for the presence of ESBLs through phenotypic classification and identified beta-lactamase genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX, blaOXA, blaCMY−2) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The prevalence of PCR-confirmed ESBL-EC in agrifood samples ranged from 0.5% to 3% across the surveillance years, and was detected most frequently in samples from broiler chicken farms. The overall prevalence of PCR-confirmed ESBL-SA varied between 1% and 4% between 2012 and 2017, and was most frequently detected in clinical isolates from domestic cattle. The TEM-CMY2 gene combination was the most frequently detected genotype for both ESBL-EC and ESBL-SA. The data suggest that the prevalence of ESBL-EC and ESBL-SA in Canada was low (i.e.

Although numerous reports have compared the antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter spp., controversy still exists about the use of the E test as an alternative to the agar dilution method suggested by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. MICs of 8 antimicrobials were determined using the E test and agar dilution methods for 103 Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates from fresh chicken randomly purchased from stores in 3 southern Ontario counties. Overall, 72.6% of E test MIC values were within 1 log(2) dilution and 95.7% within 2 log(2) dilutions of the corresponding agar dilution MICs. For individual antimicrobials, agreement within 1 log(2) dilution and 2 log(2) dilutions was as follows: ampicillin (n = 103), 90.3% and 98.1%, respectively; chloramphenicol (n = 104), 85.6% and 99%; ciprofloxacin (n = 99), 51.5% and 97.0%; clindamycin (n = 99), 26.3% and 78.8%; erythromycin (n = 99), 52.5% and 96.0%; gentamicin (n = 99), 100% and 100%; nalidixic acid (n = 98), 91.8% and 99.0%; and tetracycline (n = 86), 82.6% and 97.7%. Relative to agar dilution, the E test underestimated the MIC value by a mean of 0.74 (ampicillin), 0.82 (chloramphenicol), 1.44 (ciprofloxacin), 1.94 (clindamycin), 1.40 (erythromycin), 0.21 (gentamicin), 0.94 (nalidixic acid), and 0.20 (tetracycline) log(2) dilutions and by a median of 1 log(2) dilution for all antimicrobials except clindamycin (2), gentamicin (0), and tetracycline (0). Cost analysis, including materials and labor, showed a 39.0% higher cost per analyte for the agar dilution method as compared with the E test. The most relevant advantage of the E test over the agar dilution method is the turnaround time because testing 99 strains by the agar dilution method takes 3.6 times longer compared with the E test using the same number of strains. The E test is an acceptable alternative for antimicrobial susceptibility testing in Campylobacter because it corresponds well with the agar dilution method although being considerably less expensive, is less labor intensive, and is more rapid. However, the relationship between E test and agar dilution MICs must be considered when interpreting E test results.