Antimicrobial Resistance of Fecal-Indicator Bacteria Isolated from Aquatic Animal Farms along the Korean Coast

Abstract

The safety of seafood is a critical public health concern in Korea because of the high rate of raw seafood consumption. We investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of fecal-associated bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus) in 50 seawater samples and 48 aquatic animals collected from aquaculture farms along the Korean coast in 2018. Of them, E. coli was the most prevalent in seawater (24.0%) and aquatic animals (18.8%). Although more than 80.0% of E. coli isolates were sensitive to 9 of 15 antimicrobials, approximately 20.0% of the isolates were resistant to 4 antimicrobials, including tetracycline and streptomycin. Enterococcus spp. isolates (2.7–32.0%) were resistant to only 5 of 12 antimicrobials. Notably, 30.1% of E. coli isolates were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. To minimize health risks associated with raw seafood consumption, more research is needed concerning the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of fecal indicators.