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چکیده
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Introduction: Meat and meat products are important sources of animal protein and have a special place in the human food basket. However, due to their rich composition of nutrients, they provide a suitable environment for the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. One of the important indicators of microbial contamination in food is the presence of coliform bacteria, especially Escherichia coli, which can indicate fecal contamination and inadequate hygiene. On the other hand, the spread of antibiotic resistance genes such as blaTEM in coliform bacteria has caused a major concern in the field of public health. The aim of this study was to identify the uidA genes (as an E. coli-specific indicator) and blaTEM (beta-lactam resistance gene) in coliform isolates isolated from packaged meat products in Ilam city. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 40 samples of meat products including sausages, hot dogs, hamburgers, nuggets and cutlets were collected from different stores in Ilam city over a period of three months. The samples were transferred to the laboratory under sterile and cold chain conditions. Bacterial isolation was performed with selective media such as VRBA, MacConkey Agar and EMB Agar. Final identification was performed with biochemical tests such as IMViC. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method (based on CLSI 2023 guidelines) and DNA extraction was performed using the boiling method. The presence of uidA and blaTEM genes was investigated using PCR and specific primers. Results: Of the total samples tested, a significant percentage of the products were contaminated with coliforms, which often included E. coli and klebsiella pneumoniae. PCR results showed that a large proportion of E. coli isolates had the uidA gene and a number of strains carried the blaTEM gene. Phenotypic analysis of antibiotic resistance showed that the highest resistance was to penicillin and ampicillin and the lowest resistance was to carbapenems. Conclusion: The presence of uidA genes and especially blaTEM in coliform isolates isolated from packaged meat products in Ilam indicates the potential risk of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through the food chain. Therefore, careful health surveillance, continuous quality control, and compliance with production and storage standards in the meat industry are essential.
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