Research Article Epidemiological Dynamics of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase- orAmpC β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Screened in Apparently Healthy Chickens in Uganda Steven Kakooza , 1,2,3 Damien Munyiirwa , 1 Paul Ssajjakambwe , 4 Edrine Kayaga , 1 Dickson Stuart Tayebwa , 1 Dickson Ndoboli, 1 Loreen Basemera, 1 Esther Nabatta , 5 Maria Agnes Tumwebaze , 1 and John Baligwamunsi Kaneene 6 1 Central Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda 2 V´ et´ erinaires Sans Fronti` eres Germany, Kampala, Uganda 3 Novel Minds Science Plexus, Kampala, Uganda 4 Department of Veterinary Pharmacy, Clinics and Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda 5 Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda 6 MichiganStateUniversity,CenterforComparativeEpidemiology,736WilsonRoad,RoomA-109,EastLansing,MI48824,USA Correspondence should be addressed to John Baligwamunsi Kaneene; kaneenej@msu.edu Received 30 June 2021; Accepted 17 August 2021; Published 20 September 2021 Academic Editor: Silvia Bofill Mas Copyright © 2021 Steven Kakooza et al. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. e dynamics of extended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL-) and AmpC β-lactamase-producing bacteria (which are deadly groups of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria) have not been well understood in developing countries. is raises major concerns to an- timicrobial resistance (AMR) control. We investigated the prevalence and factors linked to the fecal carriage of ESBL- or AmpC- producing Escherichiacoli (ESBL-/AmpC-EC) in commercial chickens. Cloacal swabs from 400 birds were sampled and submitted to the Central Diagnostic Laboratory for ESBL-/AmpC-EC screening by culture methods using MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime. Epidemiological data were collected using a structured questionnaire and plausible risk factor analyses prepared by R software using X 2 test and logistic regression modeling. Results showed that the prevalence of ESBL-/AmpC-EC was 17.5%. Univariable screening hypothesized that carriage was probably influenced by a type of commercial chicken, geographical location, age group, flock size, and housing system (p < 0.05). Modeling exposed that broiler birds were at a higher risk of being ESBL-/ AmpC-EC carriers (COR � 9.82, CI � 3.85–25.07). Birds from Wakiso Town Council (COR � 4.89, CI � 2.04–11.72) and flocks of 700–1200 birds were also at a higher risk of harboring ESBL-/AmpC-EC (COR � 2.41, CI � 1.11–5.23). Birds aged 4 months and below were more susceptible to ESBL-/AmpC-EC carriage compared with those aged 1 month and below being 6.33 times (CI � 1.65–24.35) likely to be carriers. e occurrence of ESBL-/AmpC-EC in flocks suggests possible treatment failures while managing colibacillosis. Consequently, injudicious antimicrobial use should be replaced with an accurate diagnosis by bacterial culture and sensitivity testing so as to circumvent AMR emergence, spread, and associated losses. 1.Introduction Although antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an ancient phenomenon, the burden of extended-spectrum β-lacta- mase- (ESBL-) and AmpC-producing bacteria in animals (particularly poultry) became significantly higher after the usage of β-lactam antibiotics [1]. e high bacterial exposure to β-lactam antibiotics in poultry farming, usually through feed additives and clinical or prophylactic treatments, leads to the exclusion of sensitive strains but spares the resistant Hindawi Scientifica Volume 2021, Article ID 3258059, 6 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/3258059