Resistance to β-lactams in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from vegetables: a review

Vegetables are crucial for a healthy human diet due to their abundance of essential macronutrients and micronutrients. However, there have been increased reports of antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolated from vegetables. Enterobacteriaceae is a large group of Gram-negative bacteria that can act as commensals, intestinal pathogens, or opportunistic extraintestinal pathogens. Extraintestinal infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae are a clinical concern due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). β-lactams have high efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria and low toxicity for eukaryotic cells. These antimicrobials are widely used in the treatment of Enterobacteriaceae extraintestinal infections. This review aimed to conduct a literature survey of the last five years (2018–2023) on the occurrence of β-lactam-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in vegetables. Research was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature) databases. After a careful evaluation, thirty-seven articles were selected. β-lactam-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, including extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing, AmpC β-lactamases, and carbapenemases, have been isolated from a wide variety of vegetables. Vegetables are vectors of β-lactam-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, contributing to the dissemination of resistance mechanisms previously observed only in the hospital environment.