Epidemiology and molecular characterisation of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from chicken meat

The study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in broiler chicken meat samples from live bird markets and supermarkets in Bangladesh. The results showed an overall prevalence of 56.28%, with higher prevalence in LBMs and supermarkets. High resistance rates were found to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, tetracycline, and ampicillin, with cephalexin and gentamicin having the highest susceptibility rates. A significant proportion (84.71%) of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), posing a significant public health concern. The study highlights the widespread presence of MDR E. coli in broiler meat.