Low risk to people from antibiotic-resistant bacteria in chicken: scientists
Baku, July 7 (AZERTAC). Scientists who discovered evidence of extremely rare strains of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in chicken sold in some Canberra shops say the threat to human health is low.
Researchers from the Australian National University's Research School of Biology tested more than 90 packages of chicken bought from several Canberra retailers for the presence of the bacteria E. coli.
The ABC this week reported researchers discovered a small number of strains containing E. coli that were resistant to antibiotics not used in Australia's poultry industry.
Professor of microbial population biology and evolution, David Gordon, said almost 200 samples were found to contain E. coli and of those, about two-thirds were discovered to be antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli.
Just four strains of E. coli were found to be resistant to antibiotics known as fluoroquinolone, which were not used by Australia's poultry industry, he said.
Professor Gordon said the E. coli strains researchers found were rare in the samples.
He said it was unlikely the strains of fluoroquinolone-resistent E. coli were in the chicken before slaughtering, and the "most logical, although not necessarily true, explanation for their presence in poultry is post-processing contamination".
An ACT Health spokeswoman said although the directorate had not seen the study, the presence of resistant bacteria in chicken meat highlighted the importance of good food handling and preparation when eating chicken, including thorough cooking and cleaning of food-preparation surfaces.
An Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority spokeswoman said the authority was responsible for the assessment and registration of veterinary medicines, including antibiotics, in Australia.
A Department of Agriculture spokeswoman said states, territory and local government food-regulatory agencies were responsible for ensuring all food, imported and domestically produced, available for sale within their jurisdiction met Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code requirements.
Professor Gordon said the research was part of an ongoing study. He said E. coli resistant to flouoroquinolones from poultry meat had been reported in WA.
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