4.3 Transmission of AMR from broilers to people

How did the resistance to ceftiofur spread from broilers to people?

Transmission of the ceftiofur-resistant Salmonella organisms from broilers to people occurred via the food chain. People predominantly became infected during preparation and/or consumption of chicken meat carrying the resistant Salmonella organisms. People working on the chicken farms may have been infected through contact with chicken faecal material if they did not follow good personal hygiene practices such as regular handwashing before eating (Collineau et al., 2020).

Figure 2 shows the emergence of ceftiofur-resistant Salmonella organisms in broilers and transmission pathway to people via the food chain.

Figure 2 An illustration of the emergence of ceftiofur-resistant Salmonella organisms in broilers and transmission to people via the food chain.

Activity 4: AMR transmission

Timing: Allow about 5 minutes

a. 

Not storing chicken meat at sufficiently cold temperatures


b. 

Not washing hands after handling raw chicken meat


c. 

Poor hygiene when preparing chicken meals, i.e. cross-contamination from uncooked products to cooked products via contaminated bench surfaces or contaminated knives


d. 

Undercooking chicken


e. 

All of the above


The correct answer is e.

a. 

Mixing broilers from infected and non-infected flocks during transport


b. 

Transporting broilers in vehicles/crates previously contaminated with chicken faeces.


c. 

Using contaminated water and equipment during slaughter and processing


d. 

Contact between infected and uninfected broiler carcases and/or chopping boards and knives in retail outlets


e. 

All of the above


The correct answer is e.

4.2 Emergence of ceftiofur-resistant S. Heidelberg in broilers

4.4 The impact on the health of people