Characterization of antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales isolated from spinach and soil following zinc amendment

This study examined the presence and characteristics of antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales in soils and spinach grown in soils with and without zinc amendment. 160 samples were collected from two locations, with some plots amended with zinc. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The study found that 20 antimicrobial resistant Enterobacterales were isolated from both soil and spinach samples, with Serratia fonticola being the dominant species. The WGS identified genes conferring resistance to different antimicrobials, including genes for zinc resistance and multidrug efflux pumps. Overall, zinc did not influence the AMR Enterobacterales in soil or spinach samples.