Incidence of antibiotic resistance in Vibrio spp

Vibrio species is a common natural inhabitant of brackish and saltwater. Vibrio sp. includes not only emerging pathogens but also well-known and emerged pathogens, such as V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus. Although it is often harmless, pathogenic strains which could cause serious food-borne illnesses/outbreaks in both humans and animals have been identified. Vibrio infection is usually self-limiting and requires no clinical treatment. However, antibiotics are still required to treat severe cases of Vibrio infection. Recent reports have highlighted a rise in the presence of antibiotic-resistant Vibrio in the environment. This hampers the clinical treatment of Vibrio infection and has been linked to the imprudent use of antibiotics in various fields such as human medicine, agriculture and animal husbandry. As a result, it has greatly jeopardized food security, threatened public health and impugned the growth of economy. Food is a potential vehicle of antibiotic-resistant Vibrio where the resistant genes are transmitted to humans via ingestion of contaminated food. Hence, the surveillance, monitoring and management of antibiotic patterns of Vibrio are important for clinical treatment. This review focuses on different trends and global patterns of antibiotic resistance of Vibrio.