Escherichia coli, as the Indicator Microorganism of Antibiotic Resistance Across Human-animal-Environmental Interfaces

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a major global public health problem.However, emerging hospital and community-based data indicated a rise in the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in developing low and middle-income countries (LMIC) like India.Determining antibiotic use, the causes and evolution of antibiotic resistance, regional variations, and interventional techniques tailored to each nation is challenging.ABR in Escherichia coli (E.coli) is a common problem in the twenty-first century, mostly seen in humans, animals, poultry, and the environment.The majority of antibiotic-resistant genes that E. coli obtains are through horizontal gene transfer.The most problematic mechanisms observed in E. coli are associated with the acquisition of genes encoding for carbapenemases, plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance, 16S rRNA methylases, Extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL), and mcr genes.E. coli is primarily isolated from clinical isolates that are resistant to antimicrobial drugs such as carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, co-trimoxazole, aminoglycosides, and nitrofurantoin, but E. coli of animal origin often resists these drugs.However, resistance to tetracyclines, phenicols, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and fosfomycinis mostly noted in animal isolates.The resistance to trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, penicillins, ampicillin, tetracycline, aminoglycosides, etc. is higher in the environmental samples.E. coli serves as a sensor for integrated antibiotic resistance screening.The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of E. coli as an ABR marker in the public health concern.The findings of the study could shed the spotlight on the wide range of E. coli strains and strengthen infection prevention and control protocols.