Antibiotic susceptibility of enterococci isolated from traditional fermented meat products

Food Microbiol. 2009 Aug;26(5):527-32. doi: 10.1016/j.fm.2009.03.005. Epub 2009 Mar 20.

Abstract

Antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated for 182 Enterococcus spp. isolated from Alheira, Chouriça de Vinhais and Salpicão de Vinhais, fermented meat products produced in the North of Portugal. Previously, a choice was made from a group of 1060 isolates, using phenotypic and genotypic tests. From these, 76 were previously identified as Enterococcus faecalis, 44 as Enterococcus faecium, one as Enterococcus casseliflavus and 61 as Enteroccocus spp. In order to encompass several of the known chemical and functional classes of antibiotics, resistance to ampicillin, penicillin G, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, nitrofurantoin, rifampicin, tetracycline and vancomycin was evaluated. All the isolates were sensitive to antibiotics of clinical importance, such as penicillins and vancomycin. Some differences in Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics, could be associated with the enterococcal species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Enterococcus / drug effects*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / drug effects
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects
  • Fermentation
  • Food Microbiology
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Meat Products / microbiology*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Phenotype
  • Portugal

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents