Antibiotic Resistances of Enterococcus Isolated from Salad and Sprout

• Published in: Korean Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology Vol. 36; no. 2
• Main Authors: Kang, T.M. (Kyungwon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea), Cho, S.K. (Kyungwon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea), Park, J.H. (Kyungwon University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea), E-mail: p5062@kyungwon.ac.kr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 01.06.2008
• Subjects: antibiotic resistance; ENSALADAS; ENTEROCOCCUS; SALADE; SALADS; sprout
• ISSN: 1598-642X

To evaluate the antibiotic resistance of Enterococcus from salad and sprout, Enterococcus were isolated and identified from 47 salad samples and 37 sprout samples, and then their antibiotic resistances were analyzed. Ninety five Enterococcus, 41 strains from salad and 54 strains from sprout, were ultimately isolated. The frequent Enterococcus in salad and sprout were E. gallinarum, E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. hirae, and E. avium. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the isolates for vancomycin were below 4 ㎍/mL, which were not high levels of resistance. All Enterococcus proved to be resistant to streptomycin and chloramphenicol. Twenty two percentage of the isolates were resistant to penicillin, however, almost the isolates were sensitive to tetracycline. Eighteen percentage of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin. All E. faecium and E. faecalis were found to be ampicillin-resistant, and seven E. faecalis and five E. faecium were resistant to rifampicin. Overall antibiotic resistances of Enterococcus isolates were relatively low and low resistance to vancomycin was similar to those evidenced by Enterococcus isolated from the other foods. Therefore, there may be no special risk from the antibiotics resistances of Enterococcus and especially vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus from the fresh-cut salads and the sprouts.