February 14, 2022

 

Antimicrobial resistance E. coli levels in UK chicken stable in last few years

 

 

Levels of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) E. coli in chicken in the United Kingdom have remained stable in the past few years, according to a report.

 

Findings come from a survey of AMR in E. coli in fresh retail chicken in 2020 published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Generic E. coli bacteria can be useful indicators of AMR patterns.

 

Overall, 315 chicken meat samples were collected, mostly from England but some in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, from 10 supermarket chains. Almost all were of UK origin but five were from Poland and one from Ireland. Types of meat were whole chicken, chicken breasts and other cuts, including quarters, legs, thighs and drumsticks.

 

In total, 41 of the 315 samples analysed were positive for Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) or AmpC-producing E. coli. Between 2018 and 2020, the percentage of samples positive was almost the same. There was an increase in the percentage of isolates with an ESBL-phenotype but a decrease in those with an AmpC-phenotype in this period.

 

Recovery of ESBL-phenotype E. coli ranged from 0% to 22.1% of the samples tested per supermarket.

 

Three samples from Poland had the mcr-1 transferable colistin resistance gene. This is the first known time that retail chicken samples were positive for mcr plasmid-mediated colistin resistant E. coli. A risk assessment deemed the risk to be very low.

 

FSA traceback found the three samples originated from two approved premises in Poland. It was confirmed that colistin was used on the flock of chickens.

 

The predominant gene types recovered from retail chicken meat differ to those causing disease in the UK, which suggests chicken is not a major source of ESBLs in humans.

 

None of the 41 E. coli isolates were resistant to the last resort carbapenem antimicrobials, which are used to treat severe infections when other options have failed.

 

About 60% of isolates were resistant to the quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin or nalidixic acid) or to chloramphenicol. Most isolates were resistant to sulfamethoxazole and tetracyclines, and half were resistant to trimethoprim.

 

The project, run by Hallmark Meat Hygiene and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, was part of European surveillance but despite the fact the UK has left the European Union, the FSA is going to continue to monitor AMR in retail meats.

 

- Food Safety News