Prevalence of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli in foods and food-producing animals through the food chain: A worldwide systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the prevalence of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli strains in food and animal samples. The study found that 4.79% of food and animal samples harbored colistin-resistant Escherichia coli, with 5.70% harboring colistin resistance. The prevalence increased over time, with 65.30% of colistin resistance mediated by the mobile colistin resistance-1 gene. The mobile colistin resistance-1 gene had a global distribution, with a high prevalence in most regions. The high prevalence in the retail market poses a potential health risk, highlighting the need for evidence-based risk management measures under the “One Health” approach.