Escherichia coli, detected in 94% of retail chicken meat samples in the Netherlands

These findings suggest transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli from poultry to humans through the food chain. The extremely high prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in retail chicken meat is alarming and is probably not restricted to the Netherlands. This situation calls for perfect hygiene when handling poultry meat — and also for a ban on antibiotic use in food animals.

ESBL-Producing Bacteria — From Chicken
Extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Escherichia coli, detected in 94% of retail chicken meat samples in the Netherlands, is probably transmitted through the food chain to humans.

Recent years have seen an alarming worldwide rise in the incidence of infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria that produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Now, researchers in the Netherlands have used molecular methods to examine the relation among ESBL-producing bacteria in retail chicken meat, in poultry isolates from a prevalence survey, and in human patients.

Ninety-eight fresh, raw chicken breasts bought in 12 stores in Utrecht in 2010 were sampled. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli was isolated from 92 (94%) of the samples (total, 163 isolates). Further analysis of 81 isolates from 42 samples revealed genes from six ESBL groups. Taken together, blaCTX-M-1 and blaTEM-52 — both considered "poultry associated" — accounted for 75% of these genes.

A similar distribution (but lower frequency) of ESBL-producing bacteria was seen in a prevalence survey of poultry in the Netherlands in 2006. Ten percent of E. coli and Salmonella enterica isolates from poultry harbored ESBL genes, with blaCTX-M-1 and blaTEM-52 together accounting for 78% of these genes.

ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from humans, submitted by 31 Dutch laboratories between February and April 2009, were also analyzed. Of these 409 isolates, 35% contained poultry-associated ESBL genes and 19% contained poultry-associated ESBL genes located on plasmids; again, blaCTX-M-1 and blaTEM-52 were the most prevalent (taken together, 86%).

Comment: These findings suggest transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli from poultry to humans through the food chain. The extremely high prevalence of ESBL-producing bacteria in retail chicken meat is alarming and is probably not restricted to the Netherlands. This situation calls for perfect hygiene when handling poultry meat — and also for a ban on antibiotic use in food animals.

Thomas Glück, MD
Published in Journal Watch Infectious Diseases August 3, 2011

Citation(s):
Leverstein-van Hall MA et al. Dutch patients, retail chicken meat and poultry share the same ESBL genes, plasmids and strains. Clin Microbiol Infect 2011 Jun; 17:873.
Medline abstract (Free)