Isolation of shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli from raw beef in Palestine

Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from raw beef samples in northern Palestine during a 1-year period were characterized for virulence genes by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and screened for their antibiotic resistance. STEC was identified in 44 (14.7%) of 300 raw beef samples. Twelve (27.3%) of the STEC isolates were serotype O157. Nine of those were isolated during summer. The majority of STEC isolates (70.5%) harbored both stx1 and stx2 genes, while the others harbored either stx1 or stx2. High levels of resistance against different antimicrobial agents were detected. Resistance to at least three drugs was found in 55% of the isolates.