Debela AbdetaMesfin MathewosSaliman AliyeAdane HaileHabtamu Endale2024-11-062024-11-062024https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/3545Antimicrobial resistance is a serious health threat to creatures that depend on antimicrobials for the prevention and relief of infections. Foodborne Salmonella and Esherchia coli O157:H7 are critical causes of antimicrobial resistance associated morbidity and mortality. Fast growing poultry production along with antimicrobial misuse is a critical hotspot for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. A cross-sectional study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 by disc diffusion method and assessment of KAP of poultry producers was executed in conventional poultry farms in Hossana Town, Central Ethiopia from October 2023 to May 2024. Up on bacteriological, biochemical and serological tests, 27 Salmonella and 20 E. coli were isolated and identified from a total of 228 cloacal swabs and postmortem samples. In disc diffusion test, all Salmonella and E. coli isolates were resistant to tested antimicrobial agents. Salmonella was resistant to ampicillin (100%), sulfamethoxazole and cefoxitin (85.1%), tetracycline (77.8%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (74.1%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (66.6%), ceftriaxone and streptomycin (55.6%), ciprofloxacin (51.9%), ampicillin/sulbactam (48.1%), trimethoprim (44.4%) and cefotaxime (40.7%). It showed high susceptibility to meropenem (81.48 %), gentamicin (66.67%), chloramphenicol (81.48%) and azithromycin (81.48%). E. coli O157:H7 was resistant to ampicillin (100%), cefotaxime and tetracycline (90.00%), cefoxitin and trimethoprim (70.00%), sulfamethoxazole (65.00%), amoxicillin clavulanic acid and ceftriaxone (55.0%) and ampicillin/sulbactam (50.00%). It was highly susceptible to azithromycin 90.00%, gentamicin (75.00%), chloramphenicol (60.00%), ciprofloxacin (55.00%) and meropenem (50.00%). All Salmonella and 80.00% of E. coli exhibited MDR. A lower portion, 22.20%, 19.44% and 25.00% of the poultry producers have good knowledge, attitude and practice on AMU and AMR, respectively. Poultry farms in the study site were found crucial hotspots for AMR Salmonella and E. coli and the low KAP levels of the poultry producers further exacerbate antimicrobial misuse and AMR spread. Monitoring antimicrobial dispensing, awareness of stakeholders on AMR prevention, and improving poultry producers' KAP on antimicrobial use and resistance are paramount to tackling this global problem.en-USE. coli O157:H7antimicrobialresistancepoultrySalmonellaThesis