Tracking ESBL-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> Across Municipal Wastewater and Farm Ecosystems: A One Health Investigation.

ABSTRACT: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli (ESBL-EC) threatens public health by driving widespread antimicrobial resistance transmission in environmental and agricultural settings. This study examined the prevalence, genetic determinants, and phylogenetic relationships of ESBL-EC isolated from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and farm environments in southeastern North Carolina. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May and September 2025 across two WWTPs and two farms (cattle and poultry). We sampled influent and effluent wastewater, plus fecal and water specimens collected from chickens, ducks, and cattle. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against nine drugs, while PCR and sequencing were used

SUBMITTER: Deutschlander J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12944970 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature