An Invisible Threat Lurking in Your Chicken: Multidrug Resistant Campylobacter

Scientists uncover the startling truth that the chicken in your refrigerator likely harbors a nasty germ. Human cases of multidrug resistance Campylobacter infections are commonly linked to poultry.

Raw poultry is often associated with Salmonella bacteria. But other harmful pathogens may also be present in this raw meat. E. coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter are also significant threats.

Designing a Study to Discover Cause of Multidrug Resistant Campylobacter in Humans

The study, conducted by Scientists at the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research analyzed national surveillance data from 2009 to 2019.

“The study makes use of data collected by multiple US public health agencies. By sharing data and expertise we’ve been able to conduct the largest study of this kind and provide invaluable data on the source of human infections,” said Dr. Ben Pascoe, Research Fellow at IOI.

Sifting through that data with a novel approach using machine learning technology, these scientists discovered that Campylobacter bacteria making humans sick were also found livestock, wild birds, in the environment. Nearly all of those illnesses were linked to poultry.

97% of human Campylobacter infections are linked to contaminated meat

With the increasing accounts of multidrug resistant Campylobacter in circulation, this could prove to be a huge public health problem.

What is Campylobacter

Campylobacter may have a funny name, but it packs a serious punch.

This bad bug is one of the leading causes of diarrheal illness in the United States and is most commonly associated with raw or undercooked poultry. A fact supported by this study.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1.5 million people become sick from Campylobacter bacteria in the United States every year. Many of these infections are not diagnosed or reported as they are unlikely to be a part of a recognized outbreak.

Who is at Greater Risk?

Anyone exposed to even a small number of Campylobacter bacteria can become sick. However, certain groups of people are more likely to become sick if exposed and experience more serious illness if infected.

• Adults aged 65 and older
• Children younger than 5 years old
• Those with a weakened immune system
• People who work with animals, especially poultry

How is Campylobacter Spread

As this study confirms, Campylobacter bacteria is often associated with livestock. Many chickens, cows, and other animals carry Campylobacter bacteria in their intestines, liver, and other organs. These animals often show no signs or symptoms of infections.

It doesn’t take much Campylobacter for people to get sick. In fact, a single drop of juice from raw chicken has enough Campylobacter bacteria to cause infection.

A single drop of juice from raw chicken has enough Campylobacter bacteria to cause infection

Common sources of Campylobacter infection include:

• Eating raw or undercooked poultry, seafood, meat, produce, etc.
• Preparing raw or lightly cooked foods (like salad and fruit) with knives or cutting boards used with raw poultry, seafood, or meat.
• Touching animals, their food, water, or habitats.
• Drinking untreated water.

How Did Researchers Uncover the Multidrug Resistant Campylobacter Trend?

As you can imagine, 10 years of data from human and livestock/environmental surveillance is a mountain of information. How did researchers sift through this data to uncover the multidrug resistant Campylobacter trend?

These researchers used a neat application. A machine learning approach.

“Our new ensemble machine learning approach identifies cryptic signatures in bacterial genomes including genes that help Campylobacter spread, infect humans and resist antibiotics,” said Professor Samuel Sheppard, IOI Digital Microbiology and Bioinformatics Lead.

These computers keyed in the distinct markers known in the Campylobacter. Markers already used in the identification of different strains of the bacteria.

These researchers took that existing technology to the next step.

They created computer models and trained them to use those markers to identify similarities between the Campylobacter found in human specimens and those from animal or environmental sources. A connection that likely identifies the source of infection.

Poultry Found to Be Major Source of Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in the United States

Data from 8,856 human infection genetic samples were compared to the available 16,703 potential animal sources. A clear link was observed. They calculated that 68% of human infections were likely linked to poultry.

68% of human infections likely linked to poultry

As chicken is the most popular meat consumed in the United States, the research points to poultry as a major reservoir for human infection in the United States.

Besides poultry, 28% of human Campylobacter infections were linked to cattle. Other small contributors included wild birds (3%) and pork (1%).

Antimicrobial Resistance, Particularly in Poultry, Is Trending Upward

Using this same technology, researchers uncovered another unfortunate connection. Antimicrobial resistance has shown a steady increase over time across all animal sources. But this trend has been especially significant in poultry.

Rates of multidrug resistant Campylobacter increased from 12.3% in 2009 to 22.3% in 2018. This multidrug resistant Campylobacter was unresponsive to three or more antimicrobial classes; however this increase was driven by higher reports of fluroquinolone resistance in human samples.

While knowledge is power. It is what you do with that knowledge that counts.

So, what can knowing about this upward trend of human Campylobacter infections linked to poultry do for us?

”We’ve shown that not only is poultry a significant reservoir of Campylobacter infections, but that AMR [antimicrobial resistance] is increasing in livestock, especially poultry,” says Sheppard. “In order to protect ourselves and our antibiotics, the poultry industry must look to reduce the spread of infection among poultry as a matter of urgency.”

A Call to Action for Poultry Industry

Major steps have already been taken to help make the poultry industry safer. Increased sampling for harmful germs, changes in antimicrobial use on animals meant for human consumption, and other strides to reduce human antimicrobial resistance have been enacted or are in progress. The work, however, is far from over.

Does This Mean You Should Avoid Poultry?

This information, while important, doesn’t mean that you should avoid poultry. Common sense food safety goes a long way in preventing the spread of foodborne illness. Including multidrug resistant Campylobacter infections.

Wash your hands before you prepare food or eat and after using the restroom or coming into contact with animals or where they live. Cook poultry to a safe internal temperature (165° F) to kill harmful germs lurking within. Keep up with recalls that may include contamination and potential health risk.

So, enjoy your fried chicken, chicken soup, chicken stir fry, or roasted chicken.

Want to Learn More?

If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “An Invisible Threat Lurking in Your Chicken: Multidrug Resistant Campylobacter,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!

By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)