The Biocide and Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

摘要

Efflux was confirmed as an important mechanism for biocide and antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter, but more than one type of efflux pump was involved and specific differences were found when different antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin and ciprofloxacin) were tested. Repeated exposure of C. jejuni and C. coli to biocides resulted in partial increases in tolerance to biocides and antibiotics. Different mechanisms were found to be involved in adaptation to biocides including active efflux, alterations in the outer membrane protein profiles and morphological changes. It was shown that this adaptation does not result from a single species-specific mechanism. More specific studies still remain a challenge for the future since the involvement of biocides as selectors and/or inducers of mechanisms responsible for the emergence of strains with reduced susceptibility to biocides and antibiotics has been shown in several recent studies, mainly of Gram-negative bacteria (Davin-Regli and Pages 2012; Lerma et al. 2013; Soothill et al. 2013). In practice, the driving force behind selection of resistant bacterial populations are sub-lethal concentrations of the antimicrobial agents in the environment, so their prudent use is an urgent need to prevent microbial resistance development and preservation of the antimicrobial efficacy of the agents, which are currently in use.