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Persistence and Risk Assessment of Biofilm-Forming MDR and XDR Bacteria on Non-Poultry Meat Contact Surfaces in Wah

Lubna Shakoor1, Shumaila Naz1, Anas Rashid2

  • 1Department of Biosciences, University of Wah, Quaid Campus, Wah 47040, Pakistan.

Microorganisms
|May 27, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Biofilms on meat surfaces harbor dangerous bacteria. Metabolic activity, not just size, predicts antimicrobial resistance, with many strains resisting critical antibiotics on processing equipment.

Area of Science:

  • Food safety microbiology
  • Antimicrobial resistance
  • Biofilm formation

Background:

  • Biofilms on meat-contact surfaces present significant food safety challenges.
  • Understanding biofilm characteristics is crucial for controlling microbial contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between biofilm architecture, metabolic activity, and antimicrobial resistance on retail meat surfaces in Pakistan.
  • To assess the prevalence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant bacteria in these biofilms.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of 300 bacterial isolates from 120 meat-contact surfaces.
  • Phenotypic screening of biofilm formation, biomass, and metabolic activity.
  • Antimicrobial resistance profiling, including WHO Reserve antibiotics.
  • Ecological analysis of bacterial communities based on surface type.

Main Results:

  • Metabolic vigor, not biofilm biomass, was a key predictor of antimicrobial resistance severity.
  • High prevalence of multidrug-resistant (81.8%) and extensively drug-resistant (18.2%) isolates.
  • Significant resistance to critical antibiotics, including WHO Reserve drugs, particularly on mincer machines.
  • Surface type influenced bacterial diversity, with mincers acting as reservoirs for resistant pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Meat processing machinery can harbor untreatable, highly resistant pathogens.
  • Targeted anti-biofilm strategies, like matrix-degrading enzymes, are needed.
  • This study provides integrated ecological insights into Pakistan's non-poultry meat sector microbial landscape.
Keywords:
WHO AWaRe frameworkantimicrobial resistancebiofilmextensively drug-resistantfood safetyone healthpublic health risk

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