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Microorganisms
Volume 13
Issue 12
10.3390/microorganisms13122700
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Article

Impact of Exposure to Disinfectants on Presence of Efflux Pump Genes and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in Escherichia coli Isolates

by
Fernanda Borges Barbosa
,
Beatriz Rodrigues Takeda
,
Gabriella Garcia Ilion Vicentini
,
Gabriel Gandolfi
,
Victória Galdino Pavlenco Rocha
,
Leticia Soares Franco
,
Marcos Paulo Vieira Cunha
and
Terezinha Knöbl
*
School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(12), 2700; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13122700 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 23 September 2025 / Revised: 17 November 2025 / Accepted: 21 November 2025 / Published: 26 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Infections and Antibiotic Resistance in Veterinary Medicine, 2nd Edition)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Disinfectant tolerance in bacteria may be related to exposure to subinhibitory concentrations of disinfectants, which may activate efflux pumps capable of expelling antimicrobial compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of disinfection on the presence of efflux pump genes and the resistance profile of Escherichia coli from commercial laying farms employing different disinfection protocols. The emrE, qacE, qacEΔ1, qacH, sugE(c), ydgE, ydgF, and class 1 integron (intl1) genes were investigated using PCR. Susceptibility to 17 antibiotics was assessed, including β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines. Disinfectant exposure was significantly associated with higher frequencies of qacE and qacH, and a reduced frequency of ydgF. Moreover, resistance to ampicillin, trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole, and doxycycline was significantly more frequent in E. coli isolated from chickens exposed to disinfectants. These findings indicate that disinfectant use can select for E. coli carrying efflux pump genes and resistance genes, favoring the survival and dissemination of tolerant and resistant strains in poultry production. Continuous monitoring and the development of disinfection strategies that minimize selective pressures are crucial for limiting the spread of antimicrobial resistance at the animal–human–environment interface.
Keywords: qacE; qacH; ydgF; QAC; poultry qacE; qacH; ydgF; QAC; poultry

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MDPI and ACS Style

Barbosa, F.B.; Takeda, B.R.; Vicentini, G.G.I.; Gandolfi, G.; Rocha, V.G.P.; Franco, L.S.; Cunha, M.P.V.; Knöbl, T. Impact of Exposure to Disinfectants on Presence of Efflux Pump Genes and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in Escherichia coli Isolates. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 2700. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13122700

AMA Style

Barbosa FB, Takeda BR, Vicentini GGI, Gandolfi G, Rocha VGP, Franco LS, Cunha MPV, Knöbl T. Impact of Exposure to Disinfectants on Presence of Efflux Pump Genes and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in Escherichia coli Isolates. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(12):2700. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13122700

Chicago/Turabian Style

Barbosa, Fernanda Borges, Beatriz Rodrigues Takeda, Gabriella Garcia Ilion Vicentini, Gabriel Gandolfi, Victória Galdino Pavlenco Rocha, Leticia Soares Franco, Marcos Paulo Vieira Cunha, and Terezinha Knöbl. 2025. "Impact of Exposure to Disinfectants on Presence of Efflux Pump Genes and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in Escherichia coli Isolates" Microorganisms 13, no. 12: 2700. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13122700

APA Style

Barbosa, F. B., Takeda, B. R., Vicentini, G. G. I., Gandolfi, G., Rocha, V. G. P., Franco, L. S., Cunha, M. P. V., & Knöbl, T. (2025). Impact of Exposure to Disinfectants on Presence of Efflux Pump Genes and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in Escherichia coli Isolates. Microorganisms, 13(12), 2700. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13122700

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