This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Braoudaki, M. Articles by Hilton, A. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Braoudaki, M. Articles by Hilton, A. C.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, January 2004, p. 73-78, Vol. 42, No. 1
0095-1137/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.1.73-78.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Adaptive Resistance to Biocides in Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157 and Cross-Resistance to Antimicrobial Agents

Microbiology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle. Birmingham, United Kingdom

Received 13 June 2003/ Returned for modification 11 July 2003/ Accepted 18 September 2003

The mechanisms by which bacteria resist killing by antibiotics and biocides are still poorly defined, although repeated exposure to sublethal concentrations of antibacterial agents undoubtedly contributes to their development. This study aimed both to investigate the potential of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli O157 for adaptive resistance to commonly used biocides and to determine any cross-resistance to antibiotics. Strains were repeatedly passaged in media containing increasing concentrations of a biocide or antibiotic until adaptive resistance was obtained. A wide panel of antimicrobial agents was then screened by using the adapted strain to determine cross-resistance, if any. Adaptive resistance was readily achieved for both S. enterica and E. coli O157. Cross-resistance in adaptively resistant S. enterica varied with the serotype; Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis expressed cross-resistance to chloramphenicol, whereas Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium expressed cross-resistance to chlorhexidine. Benzalkonium chloride-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Virchow showed elevated resistance to chlorhexidine; however, chlorhexidine-resistant Salmonella serovar Virchow did not demonstrate reciprocal cross-resistance to benzalkonium chloride, suggesting specific rather than generic resistance mechanisms. E. coli O157 strains acquired high levels of resistance to triclosan after only two sublethal exposures and, when adapted, repeatedly demonstrated decreased susceptibilities to various antimicrobial agents, including chloramphenicol, erythromycin, imipenem, tetracycline, and trimethoprim, as well as to a number of biocides. These observations raise concern over the indiscriminate and often inappropriate use of biocides, especially triclosan, in situations where they are unnecessary, whereby they may contribute to the development of microbial resistance mechanisms.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Mangalappalli-Illathu, A. K., Vidovic, S., Korber, D. R. (2008). Differential Adaptive Response and Survival of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Planktonic and Biofilm Cells Exposed to Benzalkonium Chloride. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 3669-3680 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Moore, L. E., Ledder, R. G., Gilbert, P., McBain, A. J. (2008). In Vitro Study of the Effect of Cationic Biocides on Bacterial Population Dynamics and Susceptibility. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 4825-4834 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tuckman, M., Petersen, P. J., Howe, A. Y. M., Orlowski, M., Mullen, S., Chan, K., Bradford, P. A., Jones, C. H. (2007). Occurrence of Tetracycline Resistance Genes among Escherichia coli Isolates from the Phase 3 Clinical Trials for Tigecycline. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51: 3205-3211 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Mangalappalli-Illathu, A. K., Korber, D. R. (2006). Adaptive Resistance and Differential Protein Expression of Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Biofilms Exposed to Benzalkonium Chloride. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50: 3588-3596 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Ray, K. A., Warnick, L. D., Mitchell, R. M., Kaneene, J. B., Ruegg, P. L., Wells, S. J., Fossler, C. P., Halbert, L. W., May, K. (2006). Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella from organic and conventional dairy farms.. J DAIRY SCI 89: 2038-2050 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Poole, K. (2005). Efflux-mediated antimicrobial resistance. J Antimicrob Chemother 56: 20-51 [Abstract] [Full Text]