Antimicrobial resistance pattern of Escherichia coli strains isolated from poultry farmers and poultry slaughterers in Morocco

Aim: The objective of this study is to characterize the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from the fecal samples of poultry workers, and to study the possible dissemination of resistant E. coli  from  poultry to humans. Methodology: Sixty four E. coli strains isolated from the fecal samples of poultry workers and 35 isolates from a control group workers were tested for antibiotic resistance by agar disk diffusion with 11 antimicrobial agents. Results: Resistance of E. coli isolated from poultry workers to tetracycline, ampicillin and norfloxacin were significantly (p < 0,05) higher than those isolated from the control group. All E. coli isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime, and most of them are susceptible to gentamycin, amikacin, cefoxitin and ertapenem. Multidrug resistance is alarmingly high in all groups, but was highest in poultry farmers isolates (84%) and poultry slaughterers isolates (80%). Approximately 25 % of the isolates of poultry workers showed resistance to four or more antibiotics. Conclusion: This study implies  that occupational exposure to antimicrobial-resistant E. coli from animal contact in the broiler chicken industry may be an important route of entry for antimicrobial-resistant E. coli into the community. Keywords : Escherichia coli ; Poultry Workers ; Antibiotic Resistance ; Multidrug Resistance ; Morocco.