title: Assessment of human exposure to 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant E. coli (CREC) through consumption of broiler meat in Belgium.
abstract: Acquired resistance of Escherichia coli to 3rd generation cephalosporin antimicrobials is a relevant issue in intensive broiler farming. In Belgium, about 35% of the E. coli strains isolated from live broilers are resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporins while over 60% of the broilers are found to be carrier of these 3rd generation cephalosporin resistant E. coli (CREC) after selective isolation. A model aimed at estimating the exposure of the consumer to CREC by consumption of broiler meat was elaborated. This model consists of different modules that simulate the farm to fork chain starting from primary production, over slaughter, processing and distribution to storage, preparation and consumption of broiler meat. Input data were obtained from the Belgian Food Safety agencies' annual monitoring plan and results from dedicated research programs or surveys. The outcome of the model using the available baseline data estimates that the probability of exposure to 1000 colony forming units (cfu) of CREC or more during consumption of a meal containing chicken meat is ca. 1.5%, the majority of exposure being caused by cross contamination in the kitchen. The proportion of CREC (within the total number of E. coli) at primary production and the overall contamination of broiler carcasses or broiler parts with E. coli are dominant factors in the consumer exposure to CREC. The risk of this exposure for human health cannot be estimated at this stage given a lack of understanding of the factors influencing the transfer of cephalosporin antimicrobial resistance genes from these E. coli to the human intestinal bacteria and data on the further consequences of the presence of CREC on human health.
authors.affiliation: Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC), Staff direction of risk assessment, Belgium. pieter.depoorter@favv.be
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Depoorter
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Persoons
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uyttendaele
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butaye
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Zutter
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dierick
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imberechts
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Van Huffel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dewulf
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001530:Belgium; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D003296:Cooking; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins