Establishing streptomycin epidemiological cut-off values for Salmonella and Escherichia coli

Microb Drug Resist. 2012 Feb;18(1):88-93. doi: 10.1089/mdr.2011.0064. Epub 2011 Jul 12.

Abstract

This study was conducted to elucidate the accuracy of the current streptomycin epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) for Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. A total of 236 Salmonella enterica and 208 E. coli isolates exhibiting MICs between 4 and 32 mg/L were selected from 12 countries. Isolates were investigated by polymerase chain reaction for aadA, strA, and strB streptomycin resistance genes. Out of 236 Salmonella isolates, 32 (13.5%) yielded amplicons for aadA (n = 23), strA (n = 9), and strB (n = 11). None of the 60 Salmonella isolates exhibiting MIC 4 mg/L harbored resistance genes. Of the Salmonella isolates exhibiting MICs 8 mg/L, 16 mg/L, and 32 mg/L, 1.6%, 15%, and 39%, respectively, tested positive for one or more genes. For most monitoring programs, the streptomycin ECOFF for Salmonella is wild type (WT) ≤32 or ≤16 mg/L. A cut-off value of WT ≤32 mg/L would have misclassified 13.5% of the strains as belonging to the WT population, since this proportion of strains harbored resistance genes and exhibited MICs ≤32 mg/L. Out of 208 E. coli strains, 80 (38.5%) tested positive for aadA (n = 69), strA (n = 18), and strB (n = 31). Of the E. coli isolates exhibiting MICs of 4 mg/L, 8 mg/L, 16 mg/L, and 32 mg/L, 3.6%, 17.6%, 53%, and 82.3%, respectively, harbored any of the three genes. Based on the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines (ECOFF ≤16 mg/L), 25% of the E. coli strains presenting MIC ≤16 mg/L would have been incorrectly categorized as belonging to the WT population. The authors recommend an ECOFF value of WT ≤16 mg/L for Salmonella and WT ≤8 mg/L for E. coli.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / genetics*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / drug therapy
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary*
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Livestock
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Poultry
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Salmonella / drug effects
  • Salmonella / genetics*
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / drug therapy*
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / epidemiology
  • Salmonella Infections, Animal / microbiology
  • Streptomycin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Streptomycin