Purpose: Review of recent NARMS data in Tennessee to compare AR among NTS isolated from humans and retail meats samples.
Methods: Tennessee submits to NARMS every 20thhuman NTS isolate detected statewide and all NTS isolates from retail meat purchased from four counties. Broth microdilution is performed to determine MIC for 14 antimicrobials. Resistance patterns among human isolates were compared to those in retail meats. Analysis was done using Epi Info 7.
Results: From 2010 through 2013, 179 sporadic NTS human isolates and 76 NTS retail meat isolates were tested. Twenty-two (12%) NTS human isolates and 54 (71%) NTS retail meat isolates demonstrated AR. AR to ≥3 classes was detected in 13 (7%) NTS human isolates, six (18%) chicken breast isolates, and 14 (45%) ground turkey. Four (2%) human isolates were resistant only to ACSSuT; all were serotype Salmonella Typhimurium. Resistance to quinolones was detected in two (1%) human isolates; serotypes Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Litchfield. Only one (0.6%) of NTS human isolates was resistant to ceftriaxone compared to two (6%) and five (16%) from chicken breast and ground turkey isolates, respectively. Ceftriaxone-resistant human, chicken, and turkey isolates were differing serotypes. No retail meat isolates were quinolone resistant.
Significance: AR is a public health concern. In Tennessee, AR-NTS human isolates occurred less commonly than some national estimates, particularly AR to CIAs. Retail meat isolates demonstrated AR more frequently than human NTS with ground turkey isolate AR being more common than chicken. Serotypes varied among AR isolates from all three sources.