Evaluation of Multidrug Resistance of Salmonella Isolated from Pork Meat Obtained from Traditional Slaughter Systems in Romania

Antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria in humans and animals poses a critical public health challenge, leading to diminished effectiveness of existing antimicrobial treatments. Notably, animal-derived food products are significant vectors for the transmission of resistant bacteria to humans, with species being predominant culprits in foodborne illnesses. This study investigates the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of serovars isolated from traditionally sourced pork meat in Romania. Over a four-year period, 208 pork samples were collected using standardized protocols during traditional slaughtering practices. spp. were isolated following ISO 6579:2002 guidelines and confirmed using biochemical assays and PCR. Serotyping was performed using specific antisera, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted through the standard disk diffusion method, assessing 11 antibiotics. Results indicated a 23.07% prevalence of Salmonella, with 48 isolates categorized into eight serovars, primarily . Infantis ( = 15), . Typhimurium ( = 15), and . Derby ( = 11). PCR results confirmed the presence of by detecting the and genes, with 31.25% of isolates being positive for the -specific sequence. Notably, 93.75% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), exhibiting high resistance rates against streptomycin (91.66%) (>10 µg), tetracycline (83.33%) (>30 µg), and sulfamethoxazole (68.75%) (>300 µg). More than 60% of MDR isolates displayed resistance to five or more antibiotics. These findings underscore the need for coordinated control measures in the pork production chain to combat the spread of and protect public health. Enhanced surveillance and intervention strategies are crucial for addressing antibiotic resistance and reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses linked to contaminated animal products.