Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Eggs represent a vital dietary source globally; however, bacterial contamination poses a substantial public health risk. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the global prevalence of bacterial contamination in table eggs and to characterize the antibiotic resistance profiles of these pathogens, emphasizing their implications for public health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive bibliographic search of Web of Science, MEDLINE (PubMed), CAB Abstract, and Google Scholar databases was performed, identifying 136 studies published between 1979 and 2022. The systematic review utilized Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and advanced bibliometric techniques for data collection. Microsoft Excel and R software (v5.0) were employed for data consolidation and statistical analysis. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using Higgins' I² index, and a random-effects model was adopted for prevalence estimation and subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Seventeen bacterial species were identified in eggs, primarily Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter spp., and Listeria monocytogenes. Overall, eggshell contamination rates exceeded those of egg contents. Salmonella spp. isolates exhibited complete resistance (100%) to nitrofurantoin, novobiocin, and polymyxin and substantial resistance (>50%) to commonly used antibiotics such as amoxicillin (74.5%), penicillin G (89.1%), and colistin (83.1%). E. coli isolates showed total resistance to penicillin G (100%) and high resistance to amoxicillin (72.2%) and ceftazidime (95.6%). Antibiotic resistance varied significantly across regions, notably higher in Asian and African isolates. Multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli and Campylobacter spp. were also identified. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the high global prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in poultry eggs and highlights concerning antibiotic resistance trends, particularly among Salmonella spp. and E. coli. The findings emphasize the urgent need for region-specific biosecurity protocols and antimicrobial stewardship strategies to reduce egg contamination and control antibiotic-resistant pathogens, ultimately safeguarding public health and food safety.