Can Improved Biosecurity Measures Reduce ESBL-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Presence? An Interesting Study from Greek Pig Farms

This study investigates the relationship between biosecurity implementation and the prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in Greek swine farms, revealing an alarming 82% prevalence rate, which is significantly higher than in other European nations. Our findings indicate that comprehensive biosecurity measures are more effective than fo-cusing on priority controls alone. Notably, there was a lack of significant associations between farm size and individual biosecurity parameters, underscoring the im-portance of cumulative improvements across multiple measures. Moreover, we identi-fied a critical threshold for biosecurity implementation: farms scoring less than a criti-cal point, were consistently vulnerable to ESBL contamination. Escherichia coli emerged as the dominant species among ESBL isolates, reflecting patterns seen globally. This suggests a need for targeted biosecurity strategies, as mixed species occurrences imply shared resistance pressures. Our results advocate for a paradigm shift in biosecurity practices, emphasizing holistic improvements across all measures rather than isolating specific controls. With current implementation levels averaging only 35% of recom-mended biosecurity practices, our findings highlight the urgent need for comprehen-sive interventions to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in the Greek swine industry.