Occurrence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Campylobacterspecies isolated from retail chicken meats in Selangor, Malaysia and their associated risk factors

ABSTRACT

@#Aims:Campylobacter infection is one of the leading bacterial food-borne illness and most frequently reported in humans in developed countries. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Campylobacterand the risk factors associated with their occurrence in broiler chicken meat retailed in markets. Methodology and results:A total of 210 samples consisting of 140 chicken meat and 70 swabs from weighing scales and cutting boards were collected. Isolates were cultured by passive filtration method, identified by biochemical tests and confirmed using PCR assay.Thirty-two(32/210) 15.2% were positive for Campylobacterof which (25/210) 11.9%, (6/210) 2.9% and (1/210) 0.5% were Campylobacter jejuni, C.coli andC.upsaliensis respectively. The isolates showed high resistance to ampicillin (62.5%), enrofloxacin (56.3%) and nalidixic acid (50.0%), while only 3.1% were resistant to streptomycin. Multidrug resistant isolates (resistance to at least one antibiotics in three classes or more) was high at 71.9%. The risk factors significantly (p<0.05) associated with Campylobactercontamination on chicken’smeat included poor workers hygiene {OR 5.250 (95% CI 0.988-27.895)}, wearing improper work attire {OR 2.700 (95% CI 1.144-6.374)}, poor protective equipment {OR 38.50 (95% CI 2.915-508.463)}, poor environment/stall hygiene {OR 44.00 (95% CI 2.193-882.66)}, and using tiled counter top surface {OR 6.667 (95% CI 0.597-74.506). Conclusion, significance and impact of studyThe finding of this study affirmed that lack or poor work hygiene, unclean environmental stall and protective equipment are associated with high occurrence of multidrug resistant Campylobacterspecies isolated from chicken meat