Antibiotic resistant enteric pathogens in human and animal reservoirs

In resource-limited countries, broad-spectrum antibiotics are often prescribed empirically without microbiological diagnosis. This overuse of antibiotics in human medicine, significantly contributes to the emergence and the increase of multidrug-resistance. In addition, the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry as growth promoters and for prophylaxis and treatment of infection aggravates this problem. Often, in countries where resources are limited, animal farming is a common occupancy and people often live in close proximity to animals. Animals and meat products have been suggested as an important source for drug resistant enteric pathogens including Campylobacter spp., Arcobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in SSA countries. Transmission of these bacteria might occur by direct contact or consumption of contaminated meat products, leading to the colonization of the intestinal tract and eventually to infections. So far, the degree to which animals play a role as a reservoir for the transmission of multi drug resistant bacteria has not been studied on genotype level in rural areas of SSA. Within this project, Campylobacter spp., Arcobacter spp., Salmonella enterica, ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae genomes collected from human and animals will be compared to examine transmission between human and animal in rural areas of Tanzania and Ghana.