Exploring Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli: A Scoping Review Protocol Comparing Antibiotic-free and Conventionally Raised Beef Cattle in North America
Date
2023-07-10
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Abstract
Escherichia coli is a gram-negative bacterium commonly found in the human and animal gastrointestinal tract. Beef cattle are considered reservoirs, although some strains can trigger diarrhea in newborn calves. Certain strains, such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STECs), pose health risks in humans and animals [2]. Antibiotic resistance in E. coli is a significant concern in human and veterinary medicine, as it can lead to treatment challenges and transmission to other bacteria [3]. Canada and the United States Drug-Resistant Index score lie among the lowest ten countries, and this can be associated with the wide use of narrow-spectrum penicillin [4]. Strains encode accessory resistance and are likely resistant to multiple antibiotic classes [5]. Evidence suggests that E. coli can be resistant to more than one antimicrobial drug, and the most common resistance phenotypes are older drugs such as tetracycline, sulfonamide, streptomycin, and ampicillin [6]. Antibiotic-free beef cattle certifications have been implemented to address antimicrobial resistance concerns in the food chain [7]. However, the evidence regarding the prevalence of resistant bacteria in antibiotic-free production systems is limited. Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli represents a significant One Health issue, highlighting the urgent need to explore alternatives, such as limiting the use of antibiotics in beef cattle production to therapeutic treatments, to mitigate the spread of resistant strains and safeguard human and animal health [8].
Objectives
The objective of this study is to lead a scoping review to define the range of existing research in the area, individualize research gaps and suggest areas important for future research studies about Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli of Antibiotic-free and Conventionally Raised Beef Cattle from North America.
Methods
This scoping review has been designed following the JBI Reviewer’s Manual [9] and the PRISMA ScR guidelines for scoping reviews [1] to report it and the search question was constructed using the PICO framework. We will search the literature for peer-reviewed articles using the following databases: CAB Abstracts, BIOSIS Previews, Environmental Complete, the Web of Science’s Science Citation Index and Emerging Sources Citation Index. The grey literature search will include a search of ProQuest Dissertations and the websites of relevant government departments, agencies, and industry groups. Two independent reviewers will screen the articles at the title, abstract, and full-text levels.
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Keywords
Escherichia coli, E. coli, antimicrobial resistance, beef cattle, antibiotic-free beef