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. 1976 Sep 1;17(3):271–278. doi: 10.1186/BF03547907

The Incidence of Antibiotic Resistance among Coliform Bacteria Isolated from Food

Henry Søgaard 11,✉
PMCID: PMC8383989  PMID: 1049503

Abstract

Three-hundred-and-seventy-eight strains of coliform bacteria were isolated from specimens of commonly sold milk and food products. Klebsiella and Enterobacter spp. were predominating. Resistance to sulphonamides, streptomycin, and chloramphenicol occurred in only 5, 1, and 2 strains, respectively. No tetracycline-resistant strains were found. Two-hundred-and-two strains (54 %) were resistant to ampicillin. In genetic crosses with a sensitive strain of E. coli Κ 12 W 3132 transmissible R factors could not be demonstrated in any of the resistant coliform strains.

It is concluded that food is not a significant source of antibiotic resistant enteric bacteria. It may, however, be suggested that food is a source of potentially pathogenic gram-negative bacteria which points out the importance of strict hygienic surveillance of food production.

Keywords: coliforms, antibiotic resistance, food hygiene

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Acknowledgment

The author wants to thank the Staff of Odense Municipal Laboratory for collecting the bacterial strains. The skillful technical assistance of Mrs. Rita Kruse is highly appreciated.

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