Environmental Spread of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> and ESBL Genes among Children and Domestic Animals in Ecuador

Resumen

This study provides evidence of highly dynamic horizontal transfer of AMR genes and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the <i>E. coli</i> community and shows that some 3GCR-EC and (extended-spectrum <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>β</mml:mi><mml:mtext>-lactamase</mml:mtext></mml:mrow></mml:math>) ESBL genes may have moved relatively large distances among domestic animals and children in semirural communities near Quito, Ecuador. Child-animal contact and the presence of domestic animal feces in the environment potentially serve as important sources of drug-resistant bacteria and ESBL genes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7729.