Multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from chicken droppings in poultry farms at Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: The poultry sector is one of the largest and fastest-growing agricultural sub-sector, especially in developing countries like Ethiopia. In poultry production, poultry farmers use sub-optimum doses of antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention purpose. This indiscriminate use of antibiotics in poultry farms contributes to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which has adverse implications for public health. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess multidrug resistance and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from chicken droppings in poultry farms. METHODS: A total of 87 pooled chicken-dropping samples were collected from poultry farms from March to June 2022. Samples were transported with buffered peptone water. Selenite F broth was used for the enrichment and isolation of Salmonella spp. Isolates were cultured and identified by using MacConkey agar, Xylose lysine deoxycholate agar, and routine biochemical tests. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique and combination disk test were used for antibiotic susceptibility testing and confirmation of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production, respectively. Data were entered using Epi-data version 4.6 and then exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. RESULT: Out of 87 pooled chicken droppings, 143 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified. Of these, E. coli accounts for 87 (60.8%), followed by Salmonella spp. 23 (16.1%), P. mirabilis 18 (12.6%) and K. pneumoniae 11 (7.7%). A high resistance rate was observed for ampicillin 131 (91.6%), followed by tetracycline 130 (90.9), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 94 (65.7%). The overall multidrug resistance rate was 116/143 (81.1%; 95% CI: 74.7–87.5). A total of 12/143 (8.4%; CI: 3.9–12.9) isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers, with 11/87 (12.6%) E. coli and 1/11 (9.1%) K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: High prevalence of multi-drug resistant isolates was observed. This study alarms poultry as a potential reservoir of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, which might shed and contaminate the environment through faecal matter. Prudent use of antibiotics should be implemented to manage antibiotic resistance in poultry production.