The emergence and dissemination of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase bacteria (ESBL) have been reported as a major public health issue, mainly with regard to nosocomial infections. In Brazil, ESBL are widely disseminated among the Enterobacteriaceae family and enzymes TEM, SHV, CTX-M, VEB, BES and GES have been reported in several states. However, the major concern is the high rates of resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli strains. Currently, ESBL belonging to CTX-M-2, CTX-M-8 and CTX-M-9 subtypes are the most prevalent in Brazil. Apart from nosocomial infections, ESBL bacteria from outpatient and environmental samples have been identified. CTX-M-2 has been identified in Salmonella samples from animal production, which may have dire consequences for agribusiness, particularly meat export in Brazil. Thus, the regulation of antimicrobial agents is vital in order to avoid the dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria and to assure the quality and innocuousness of food products. Therefore, this review aims to report the epidemiology of ESBL in Brazil, focusing on their clinical, environmental and economic impact.
ESBL; Agribusiness; Bacterial resistance; Enterobacteriaceae; Nosocomial infection
