Antibiotic Resistant Enterobacteria Isolated from Salsa

The rise in the number of microorganisms resistant to antimicrobials is a worldwide problem. Inappropriate usage of antibiotics is often cited as one of the main causes. Usage practices along the US-Mexico border afford an excellent opportunity to study this aspect of resistance. Whereas the use of these medications is stringently controlled on the US side of the border, a wide selection of antibiotics can be obtained without a prescription in most Mexican pharmacies. Our laboratory is investigating the level of antibiotic resistance found along the Laredo, Texas ­ Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas border region. We have chosen to isolate enteric bacteria from various types of salsas, a staple food of the US Mexico border region. To our knowledge Salsas have not been investigated as reservoirs of antibiotic resistance microbes.