First national survey of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli and coagulasepositive Staphylococcus spp. isolated from clinical infections in animals

Authors: Trott DJ, Abraham S
Publication: Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Annual Conferences, Volume 2014 AVA Annual Conference, Perth, Issue Industry / Public Health, May 2014
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

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Abstract: Objective: Australia currently has no national network of surveillance for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in animals. The aim of the study is to establish baseline susceptibility data for Escherichia coli and coagulase-positive staphylococci identified as cause of infection from all veterinary diagnostic laboratories in Australia from January 2013-January 2014. Methods: E. coli (n = up to 1500) and coagulase-positive staphylococci (n = up to 1500) were collected from veterinary diagnostic laboratories (n = 22) across Australia. All isolates were subjected to CLSI disc diffusion susceptibility testing for 16-18 antimicrobials of importance to veterinary and public health. This abstract reports the preliminary results of the study foe E. coli (companion animals; n = 656 and livestock; n = 300), Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (companion animals; n=452) and Staphylococcus aureus (companion animals; n=107 and livestock; n=219). Results: E. coli from companion animals (predominantly extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli) demo strated absence of resistance to carbapenems and amikacin. Resistance was identified most frequently to ampicillin (29%) and tetracycline (15%). However resistance to ciprofloxacin (8%), cefovecin (9%), ceftiofur (9%) and ceftazidime (7%) also was observed. All livestock associated E. coli (predominantly enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli) were sensitive to critical antimicrobials such as carbapenems, fluoroquinolones and amikacin. These isolates were frequently resistant to ampicillin (50%), tetracycline (49%), streptomycin (40%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (38%). Only five isolates demonstrated resistance to ceftiofur.

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