ARS | Publication request: SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT CAMPYLOBACTER

Submitted to: Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 8, 1999
Publication Date: August 8, 1999
Citation: Cray, P.J., Petersen, K.E., Tollefson, L., Dargatz, D.A., Muhmed, W., Hollinger, K., Headrick, M., Ferris, K. 1999. Significance of antibiotic-resistant campylobacter. Poultry Science Association Meeting Abstract. 78:(Suppl 1)17: p.5.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter spp. gastroenteritis in humans is characterized by the unremarkable symptoms of headache, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Within the United States an estimated two to four million such cases occur annually. Most cases of human poultry borne disease are self-limiting and resolve after a week's duration of symptoms, but chronic sequelae may occur in 2 to 10 percent of the stricken patients. Although Campylobacter gastroenteritis is typically short-lived, when treatment is indicated the drug of choice is Erythromycin. Fluoroquinolones may also be prescribed because of their wide spectrum of activity. As part of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Program - Enteric Bacteria (NARMS), antimicrobial resistance testing for Campylobacter was added in 1998. Antimicrobials tested included Azithromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Gentamicin, and Tetracycline. All testing was done using the E test (AB Biodisk) as per manufacturer's direction. Isolates (n=215) were obtained from broiler carcass rinses. No resistance was observed for Chloramphenicol or Gentamicin. Resistance was observed for the other antimicrobials at the following levels: Azithromycin (12.6%), Ciprofloxacin (13.6%), Clindamycin (11.6%), Erythromycin (11.6%), and Tetracycline (59.1%). These results parallel resistance reports from human Campylobacter isolates.