Biocide-Tolerant Listeria monocytogenes Isolates from German Food Production Plants Do Not Show Cross-Resistance to Clinically Relevant Antibiotics

Abstract

Foodborne pathogens such as L. monocytogenes can persist in food production environments for a long time, causing perennial outbreaks. Hence, bacterial pathogens are able to survive cleaning and disinfection procedures. Accordingly, they may be repeatedly exposed to sublethal concentrations of disinfectants, which might result in bacterial adaptation to these biocides. Furthermore, antibiotic coresistance and cross-resistance are known to evolve under biocide selection pressure in vitro . Hence, antimicrobial tolerance seems to play a crucial role in the resilience and persistence of foodborne pathogens in the food chain and might reduce therapeutic options in infectious diseases.