Contribution of Food to the Human Health Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance.

The impact of foodborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on the human health burden of AMR infections is unknown. The aim of this review was to evaluate and summarize the scientific literature investigating all potential sources of human AMR infections related to food. A literature search was conducted in Embase (Ovid) and MEDLINE (Ovid) databases to identify appropriate studies published between 2010 and 2023. The results of the search were reviewed and categorized based on the primary subject matter. Key concepts from each category are described from the perspective of food safety as a public health objective. The search yielded 3457 references, 1921 remained after removal of duplicates, abstracts, editorials, comments, notes, retractions, and errata. No properly designed source attribution studies were identified, but 383 journal articles were considered relevant and were classified into eight subcategories and discussed in the context of four streams of evidence: prevalence data, epidemiological studies, outbreak investigations and human health impact estimates. There was sufficient evidence to conclude that AMR genes, whether present in pathogenic or nonpathogenic bacteria, constitute a foodborne hazard. The level of consumer risk owing to this hazard cannot be accurately estimated based on the data summarized here. Key gaps in the literature are noted.

Exposure Profile of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Canadian Food Sources.

ABSTRACT: A new coronavirus strain known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. This virus is the causative agent for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and spreads primarily through human-to-human transmission via infected droplets and aerosols generated by infected persons. Although COVID-19 is a respiratory virus, the potential for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via food is considered theoretically possible and remains a concern for Canadian consumers. We have conducted an exposure assessment of the likelihood of exposure of SARS-CoV-2 in Canadian food sources at the time of consumption. This article describes the exposure routes considered most relevant in the context of food contamination with SARS-CoV-2, including contaminated food of animal origin, other contaminated fresh foods, fomites, and SARS-CoV-2-contaminated feces. The likelihood of foodborne infection of SARS-CoV-2 via the human digestive tract also was considered. Our analysis indicates that there is no evidence that foodborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has occurred, and we consider the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 via food and food packaging in Canada as low to remote. Adherence to safe food practices and cleaning procedures would in any case prevent a potential foodborne infection with SARS-CoV-2.

Antimicrobial resistance associated with the use of antimicrobial processing aids during poultry processing operations: cause for concern?

Antimicrobial resistance has become a global issue and a threat to human and animal health. Contamination of poultry carcasses with meat-borne pathogens represents both an economic and a public health concern. The use of antimicrobial processing aids (APA) during poultry processing has contributed to an improvement in the microbiological quality of poultry carcasses. However, the extensive use of these decontaminants has raised concerns about their possible role in the co-selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This topic is presented in the current review to provide an update on the information related to bacterial adaptation to APA used in poultry processing establishments, and to discuss the relationship between APA bacterial adaptation and the acquisition of a new resistance phenotype to therapeutic antimicrobials by bacteria. Common mechanisms such as active efflux and changes in membrane fluidity are the most documented mechanisms responsible for bacterial cross-resistance to APA and antimicrobials. Although most studies reported a bacterial resistance to antibiotics not reaching a clinical level, the under-exposure of bacteria to APA remains a concern in the poultry industry. Further research is needed to determine if APA used during poultry processing and therapeutic antimicrobials share common sites of action in bacteria and encounter similar mechanisms of resistance.

Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Isolates in Canadian Broiler Chickens and Their Products.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health threat. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate AMR in generic Escherichia coli and Salmonella recovered from broiler chickens in Canada. To do this, an analysis of the antimicrobial susceptibility results was performed on a sample of generic E. coli and Salmonella isolates from the 2012 to 2013 national microbiological baseline study in broiler chicken. Of the 1135 generic E. coli isolates tested, 940 (82.8%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, with a large number of unique AMR profiles observed. Of the 1495 Salmonella isolates tested, 879 (58.8%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. Resistance was most common to aminoglycosides, ß-lactams, and tetracyclines and, for generic E. coli isolates only, folate inhibitors. Differences in AMR patterns were observed across regions for both E. coli and Salmonella. For Salmonella, the levels of resistance were similar across the different sectors sampled along the food chain (e.g., slaughterhouse and retail) and the types of product sampled. There were also considerable differences in the levels and patterns of resistance among different Salmonella serovars, with most Salmonella Enteritidis isolates being susceptible to all antimicrobials tested.

Remote sensing measurements of sea surface temperature as an indicator of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oyster meat and human illnesses.

BACKGROUND: Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) is a naturally occurring bacterium found in marine environments worldwide. It can cause gastrointestinal illness in humans, primarily through raw oyster consumption. Water temperatures, and potentially other environmental factors, play an important role in the growth and proliferation of Vp in the environment. Quantifying the relationships between environmental variables and indicators or incidence of Vp illness is valuable for public health surveillance to inform and enable suitable preventative measures. This study aimed to assess the relationship between environmental parameters and Vp in British Columbia (BC), Canada. METHODS: The study used Vp counts in oyster meat from 2002-2015 and laboratory confirmed Vp illnesses from 2011-2015 for the province of BC. The data were matched to environmental parameters from publicly available sources, including remote sensing measurements of nighttime sea surface temperature (SST) obtained from satellite readings at a spatial resolution of 1 km. Using three separate models, this paper assessed the relationship between (1) daily SST and Vp counts in oyster meat, (2) weekly mean Vp counts in oysters and weekly Vp illnesses, and (3) weekly mean SST and weekly Vp illnesses. The effects of salinity and chlorophyll a were also evaluated. Linear regression was used to quantify the relationship between SST and Vp, and piecewise regression was used to identify SST thresholds of concern. RESULTS: A total of 2327 oyster samples and 293 laboratory confirmed illnesses were included. In model 1, both SST and salinity were significant predictors of log(Vp) counts in oyster meat. In model 2, the mean log(Vp) count in oyster meat was a significant predictor of Vp illnesses. In model 3, weekly mean SST was a significant predictor of weekly Vp illnesses. The piecewise regression models identified a SST threshold of approximately 14oC for both model 1 and 3, indicating increased risk of Vp in oyster meat and Vp illnesses at higher temperatures. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of SST, particularly through readily accessible remote sensing data, could serve as a warning signal for Vp and help inform the introduction and cessation of preventative or control measures.

Estimating the public health impact of setting targets at the European level for the reduction of zoonotic Salmonella in certain poultry populations.

In the European Union (EU), targets are being set for the reduction of certain zoonotic Salmonella serovars in different animal populations, including poultry populations, within the framework of Regulation (EC) No. 2160/2003 on the control of zoonoses. For a three-year transitional period, the EU targets were to cover only Salmonella Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium (and in addition S. Hadar, S. Infantis and S. Virchow for breeding flocks of Gallus gallus). Before the end of that transitional period, the revision of the EU targets was to be considered, including the potentially addition of other serovars with public health significance to the permanent EU targets. This review article aims at providing an overview of the assessments carried out by the Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards of the European Food Safety Authority in the field of setting targets for Salmonella in poultry populations (breeding flocks of Gallus gallus, laying flocks of Gallus gallus, broiler flocks of Gallus gallus and flocks of breeding and fattening turkeys) and their impact in subsequent changes in EU legislation.