4. Discussion
Ever since the first strain of L. monocytogenes with antibiotic
resistance was isolated in 1988, resistance to one or more antimicrobials
has been found in strains isolated in foodstuffs and in the
environment, as well as of human origin. A list of L. monocytogenes
antibiotic-resistant strains isolated from meat products and foodprocessing
environment is presented in Table 4. Given the
increasing number of antibiotic-resistant L. monocytogenes strains
being isolated around the world, it appears that this pathogen is
rapidly acquiring a wide variety of antibiotic resistance genes, many
of which may come from the commensal organisms found in foods
and food-growing and food-processing areas (Lungu et al., 2011).