February 24, 2011

Dutch research finds removing ESBL a difficult task

Dutch research shows that the removal of ESBL bacteria from poultry houses can take at least five years and does not involve hygiene and ESBL free chickens only.

That was according to Fred van Zijderveld from the Netherlands' Central Veterinair Institute of Wageningen UR.

Van Zijderveld explained that research is currently being carried out to investigate the presence of components that make the bacteria resistant to a group of penicillin like antibiotics. Earlier results show that these negative characteristic return, even when the poultry houses are fully disinfected.

According to Van Zijderveld, the ESBL bacteria are reduced by exposing them to very high temperatures, sufficient hygiene protocols and a reduced use of antibiotics in poultry production.