EN
During the last two decades antibiotic-resistant strains of Enterococcus spp. have emerged as important pathogens responsible for serious nosocomial infections in humans. From the medical point of view the resistance to vancomycin and aminoglycosides has special significance. Several studies suggest that resistant strains of enterococci could be transmitted from animals to humans through the food chain. In the Polish literature there is no data about antibiotic sensitivity of enterococci isolated from food of animal origin. The aim of the study was the evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility of enterococci recovered from different types of such food. One hundred and thirty eight strains of Enterococcus spp. obtained from regional veterinary laboratories were tested using the disk diffusion method. All strains were isolated from food of animal origin (milk and milk products, raw meat, minced meat). The percentage of resistant strains ranged from 2.2 for ampicillin to 84.1 for streptomycin. Most of the strains (133 isolates) were resistant for two or more antibacterial substances. The obtained results confirmed a relatively high level of resistance of enterococci for antibiotics used in animals and humans.