October 4, 2022

 

UK sees rise in antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter from chicken for last two decades

 

 

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Campylobacter from chicken has increased in the United Kingdom in the past two decades, according to a report.

 

The report from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) summarised 20 years of data on AMR in Campylobacter in chicken. Variables included sample type, origin and production method.

 

Campylobacter is the main cause of bacterial food poisoning in the UK and it is estimated there are more than 500,000 cases annually.

 

The study found resistance to quinolones such as ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid and tetracycline was common in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from UK chicken. However, resistance to erythromycin and streptomycin was much rarer and resistance to gentamicin was very rare.

 

Dr. Paul Cook, FSA's science lead in microbiological risk assessment, said overall data shows an increase in AMR in Campylobacter to certain antimicrobials but the trend has stabilised since 2014.

 

"Any increase of AMR in Campylobacter is a concern and continued surveillance is essential," he said. "We will continue to carry out AMR surveillance in chicken and other meats and to monitor any long-term trends in resistance, while promoting good food hygiene practice to reduce exposure to AMR bacteria and protect consumer safety."

 

Multidrug-resistant profiles, meaning resistance to at least three unrelated antimicrobial classes, were at very low levels in Campylobacter jejuni and at low levels in Campylobacter coli. It was found in 136 Campylobacter coli and 42 Campylobacter jejuni isolates.

 

"Despite the use of antimicrobials in UK poultry production reducing dramatically in the past decade, this has not been accompanied by reductions in resistance rates for all antimicrobials," the report stated.

 

AMR data for 5,267 Campylobacter jejuni and 1,997 Campylobacter coli isolates collected between 2001 and 2018 were analysed. This showed, on average, 29% of the Campylobacter jejuni and 32% of Campylobacter coli isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin but only 1.6% of Campylobacter jejuni and 13.2% of Campylobacter coli isolates were resistant to erythromycin.

 

Overall, 48.2% of both the Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates were resistant to tetracycline. Resistance to streptomycin was detected in 1% of Campylobacter jejuni and 8.9% of Campylobacter coli isolates. Only four isolates were resistant to gentamicin.

 

Campylobacter jejuni isolates with resistance to ciprofloxacin increased from 13% in 2001 to 52% in 2018. Data from 2020 shows 58.5% of 265 Campylobacter jejuni isolates had a genetic determinant predicting resistance to Ciprofloxacin. There was also a rise from 16% of isolates with resistance to nalidixic acid in 2001 to 52% in 2018.

 

The percentage of Campylobacter coli isolates with resistance to ciprofloxacin increased from 15% in 2001 to 51% in 2017. Genetic determinants predicting resistance were detected in 43.7% of isolates between 2018 and 2020. Resistance to nalidixic acid went up from 16% in 2001 to 50% in 2017.

 

The rate of Campylobacter jejuni isolates resistant to erythromycin was below 5% in all years. In samples from 2018 to 2020, no resistance was detected in 773 Campylobacter jejuni isolates.

 

Tetracycline resistance in Campylobacter jejuni increased from 27% in 2001 to 66% in 2018 but was stable from 2014 to 2020. The percentage of Campylobacter coli isolates with resistance rose from 23% in 2001, to over 55% in all years after 2013.

 

Chicken from non-standard production was associated with a higher probability of Campylobacter coli with resistance to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline.

 

However, resistance to erythromycin seemed lower in samples from chicken reared as free range or organic. Chicken from non-UK production had a slightly higher level of Campylobacter coli isolates with resistance to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid.

- Food Safety News