Rise in Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Strains Detected in U.S. Chicken Meat
A recent study by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign highlights the growing concern over multidrug-resistant strains of Salmonella found in retail chicken meat.
Salmonella infections cause over 1.3 million illnesses annually in the U.S., primarily through contaminated poultry. Emerging strains with resistance to multiple antibiotics are becoming more prevalent, making control efforts increasingly challenging.
The study analyzed data from nearly 40,000 retail chicken meat samples collected between 2013 and 2020.
Of these, 7.7% tested positive for Salmonella, with the most common strains being S. Kentucky, S. Typhimurium, S. Infantis, and S. Enteritidis. S. Kentucky, though the most prevalent, rarely infects humans.
However, a dramatic rise in the prevalence of S. Infantis, which jumped from 3% in 2015 to nearly 40% in 2020, has raised significant public health concerns due to its multidrug-resistant properties.
“S. Infantis has become increasingly prevalent and has recently emerged as multidrug-resistant due to a plasmid (pESI) within that serovar,” said researcher Nasim Sohail.
The study’s findings call for new strategies to mitigate Salmonella contamination in poultry, particularly in addressing the rise of S. Infantis. Vaccination against S. Typhimurium has been successful, but the emergence of other resistant strains suggests a need for serovar-specific control measures.
The research team emphasized that while efforts to reduce Salmonella in poultry are vital, consumers must also take precautions, such as thoroughly cooking poultry and avoiding cross-contamination in kitchens.
“We can work to reduce Salmonella, but it won’t disappear,” said assistant professor Csaba Varga.
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