Characterization of Enterocccus faecalis Isolates from the Pork Meat Production Chain and Comparison with Human Clinical Isolates.

A total of 339 Enterococcus faecalis strains were isolated from pork production chain, slaughterhouses, processing plants and retails, and were compared with human infection strains for investigating the transmission from animal to human via food production chain. From slaughterhouses to retails, most of antimicrobial resistances and multidrug resistance rates decreased or were not changed significantly. Meanwhile, the prevalence rate of strong or moderate biofilm-forming isolates was highest at retails. In the result of random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction analysis, there was no strain persisting along the pork production chain or being similar to human strains. Consequently, it is suggested that E. faecalis strains from pork meat would not be delivered to humans by consumption of pork. Practical Applications Through investigation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria of the pork production chain of Korea, more information and relief would be provided to consumers and its results could help policy making in public health and food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]