ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of bacteria from poultry litter: A cross-sectional descriptive study in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, India

A surge in antibiotic resistance has emerged as a significant global problem. An antibiotic is being rampantly administered in poultry farms to promote growth by minimizing infection. Development of Antibiotic Resistant Microflora (ARM) in poultry has been emerging as a major public-health threat in India. In this cross-sectional study, isolated bacteria from poultry litter sample from four different farm located in South 24 Parganas reveal the fact that, out of a total of 56 isolates, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Aeromonas sobria, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter lwoffii were predominate. Among them, 4 percent of isolated bacterial population exhibits MDR phenotype, that is resistance to more than 2 different classes of antibiotics. Majority of the resistance phenotype were shown against β-Lactam antibiotics (Benzylpenicillin, Oxacillin, Cefadroxil, Ceftriaxone, Cefepime, Amoxicillin), Trimethoprim, Rifampicin, Tetracycline, and Streptomycin. Among different isolates, highest Multiple Antibiotics Resistance Index value (0.18) was exhibited by E. coli. This epidemiological study highlights the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in poultry farm environments within the selected region of South 24 Parganas, emphasizing the potential risk to public health.