Abstract:

Current studies have demonstrated the serious disinfectant resistance in food-borne bacteria. Escherichia coli as
an indicator bacterium for food contamination and drug resistance reveals much higher resistance to quaternary ammonium
compounds (QACs) than do Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, the resistance to QACs and antibiotics can be disseminated
and co-transmitted, thus resulting in co-selected disinfectant and antibiotics-resistant bacteria. Therefore, the chemical
structure, species and mechanism of action of QACs, the genetic mechanism as well as genotype and phenotype underlying
QACs resistance of Escherichia coli, and the mechanism of co-transmission with antibiotic resistance are summarized
in this article. To date, little is known about the mechanism of disinfectant resistance in food-borne E. coli. Thus, further
research on the disinfectant resistance is needed. Understanding the mechanism of QACs resistance of E. coli can provide a
theoretical and scientific basis for regulating the use of disinfectants and preventing food-borne E. coli infections.

Key words: Escherichia coli, quaternary ammonium compounds, disinfectant, antibiotic resistance