Abstract
The emergence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria has become a critical global One Health issue, mainly attributed to the extensive use of antimicrobial agents in human and agricultural settings. Regional and local AMR surveillance data is essential for implementing awareness and mitigation strategies. This article assesses AMR frequency in 1604 bacterial isolates consisting of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella spp. isolated from diverse sources in Virginia, including farm animals, wildlife, environment, and food samples from 2007 to 2021. The results are based on the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assessment method of susceptibility to select antimicrobial agents, spanning nine distinct categories approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. Streptomycin (STR) and tetracycline (TCY) exhibited the highest frequency of resistance in E. coli (39.1%) and Salmonella (25.2%), respectively. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was evident in 6.6% of E. coli and 10.9% of Salmonella isolates. Notably, 51% of E. coli and 36% of Salmonella isolates demonstrated resistance to more than one antimicrobial. None of the tested antimicrobials guaranteed effectiveness against the bacteria isolated from the surveyed sources and regions. The study found heightened MDR and distinct AMR patterns in bacteria isolated from food products compared to other sampled sources. These findings are vital for comprehending the current AMR landscape, prompting the development of strategies to mitigate the emergence of AMR bacteria, and advocating prudent antimicrobial use from a One Health perspective.