University of Pretoria Reports Findings in Escherichia coli (Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance profiles of pathogenic Escherichia coli from commercial swine and poultry abattoirs and farms in South Africa: A One Health approach).

A report from the University of Pretoria in South Africa discusses the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance profiles of pathogenic Escherichia coli (PEC) in commercial swine and poultry abattoirs and farms. PECs are foodborne bacteria that can cause severe illness in humans and can contaminate various ecosystems through fecal transmission. The study found that PECs were prevalent in swine and poultry samples, as well as in human hand swabs and run-off water from abattoirs. Some PEC isolates showed multi-drug resistance, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance to prevent the spread of drug-resistant foodborne pathogens. [Extracted from the article]