Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public Health
The intersection of microbial food safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a mounting global threat with profound implications for public health, food safety, and sustainable development. This review explores the complex pathways through which foodborne pathogens—such as <i>Salmon...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1592 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839615522051719168 |
|---|---|
| author | Ayman Elbehiry Eman Marzouk Adil Abalkhail Husam M. Edrees Abousree T. Ellethy Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini Mai Ibrahem Abdulrahman Almujaidel Feras Alzaben Abdullah Alqrni Akram Abu-Okail |
| author_facet | Ayman Elbehiry Eman Marzouk Adil Abalkhail Husam M. Edrees Abousree T. Ellethy Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini Mai Ibrahem Abdulrahman Almujaidel Feras Alzaben Abdullah Alqrni Akram Abu-Okail |
| author_sort | Ayman Elbehiry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The intersection of microbial food safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a mounting global threat with profound implications for public health, food safety, and sustainable development. This review explores the complex pathways through which foodborne pathogens—such as <i>Salmonella</i> spp., <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>), <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (<i>L. monocytogenes</i>), and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp.—acquire and disseminate resistance within human, animal, and environmental ecosystems. Emphasizing a One Health framework, we examine the drivers of AMR across sectors, including the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture, aquaculture, and clinical settings, and assess the role of environmental reservoirs in sustaining and amplifying resistance genes. We further discuss the evolution of surveillance systems, regulatory policies, and antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) designed to mitigate resistance across the food chain. Innovations in next-generation sequencing, metagenomics, and targeted therapeutics such as bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and CRISPR-based interventions offer promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. However, the translation of these advances into practice remains uneven, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing significant barriers to diagnostic access, laboratory capacity, and equitable treatment availability. Our analysis underscores the urgent need for integrated, cross-sectoral action—anchored in science, policy, and education—to curb the global spread of AMR. Strengthening surveillance, investing in research, promoting responsible antimicrobial use, and fostering global collaboration are essential to preserving the efficacy of existing treatments and ensuring the microbiological safety of food systems worldwide. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-861a66eab2f14ed8be0b48d35cfe150f |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-861a66eab2f14ed8be0b48d35cfe150f2025-07-25T13:31:11ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-07-01137159210.3390/microorganisms13071592Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public HealthAyman Elbehiry0Eman Marzouk1Adil Abalkhail2Husam M. Edrees3Abousree T. Ellethy4Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini5Mai Ibrahem6Abdulrahman Almujaidel7Feras Alzaben8Abdullah Alqrni9Akram Abu-Okail10Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6666, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6666, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6666, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Basic Oral Sciences and Dental Education, College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6666, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Food Service, King Fahad Armed Hospital, Jeddah 23311, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Family Medicine, King Fahad Armed Hospital, Jeddah 23311, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pathology and Laboratory Diagnosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi ArabiaThe intersection of microbial food safety and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a mounting global threat with profound implications for public health, food safety, and sustainable development. This review explores the complex pathways through which foodborne pathogens—such as <i>Salmonella</i> spp., <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>), <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> (<i>L. monocytogenes</i>), and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp.—acquire and disseminate resistance within human, animal, and environmental ecosystems. Emphasizing a One Health framework, we examine the drivers of AMR across sectors, including the misuse of antibiotics in agriculture, aquaculture, and clinical settings, and assess the role of environmental reservoirs in sustaining and amplifying resistance genes. We further discuss the evolution of surveillance systems, regulatory policies, and antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) designed to mitigate resistance across the food chain. Innovations in next-generation sequencing, metagenomics, and targeted therapeutics such as bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and CRISPR-based interventions offer promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. However, the translation of these advances into practice remains uneven, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) facing significant barriers to diagnostic access, laboratory capacity, and equitable treatment availability. Our analysis underscores the urgent need for integrated, cross-sectoral action—anchored in science, policy, and education—to curb the global spread of AMR. Strengthening surveillance, investing in research, promoting responsible antimicrobial use, and fostering global collaboration are essential to preserving the efficacy of existing treatments and ensuring the microbiological safety of food systems worldwide.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1592antimicrobial resistance (AMR)foodborne pathogensOne Healthsurveillance systemsmicrobial food safetyPublic Health |
| spellingShingle | Ayman Elbehiry Eman Marzouk Adil Abalkhail Husam M. Edrees Abousree T. Ellethy Abdulaziz M. Almuzaini Mai Ibrahem Abdulrahman Almujaidel Feras Alzaben Abdullah Alqrni Akram Abu-Okail Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public Health Microorganisms antimicrobial resistance (AMR) foodborne pathogens One Health surveillance systems microbial food safety Public Health |
| title | Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public Health |
| title_full | Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public Health |
| title_fullStr | Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public Health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public Health |
| title_short | Microbial Food Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance in Foods: A Dual Threat to Public Health |
| title_sort | microbial food safety and antimicrobial resistance in foods a dual threat to public health |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance (AMR) foodborne pathogens One Health surveillance systems microbial food safety Public Health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/7/1592 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aymanelbehiry microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT emanmarzouk microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT adilabalkhail microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT husammedrees microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT abousreetellethy microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT abdulazizmalmuzaini microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT maiibrahem microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT abdulrahmanalmujaidel microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT ferasalzaben microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT abdullahalqrni microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth AT akramabuokail microbialfoodsafetyandantimicrobialresistanceinfoodsadualthreattopublichealth |