The application of antibiotics in broiler production and the resulting antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli: A global overview

Abstract

The increase in antibiotic resistance is a global concern for human and animal health. Resistant microorganisms can spread between food-producing animals and humans. The objective of this review was to identify the type and amount of antibiotics used in poultry production and the level of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from broilers. Isolate information was obtained from national monitoring programs and research studies conducted in large poultry-producing regions: US, China, Brazil, and countries of EU—Poland, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain.The survey results clearly display the absence of a harmonized approach in the monitoring of antibiotics per animal species and the evaluation of resistances using the same methodology. There is no public long-term quantitative data available targeting the amount of antibiotics used in poultry, with the exception of France. Data on antibiotic-resistant E. coli are available for most regions but detection of resistance and number of isolates in each study differs among regions; therefore, statistical evaluation was not possible. Data from France indicate that the decreased use of tetracyclines leads to a reduction in the detected resistance rates. The fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, and polymyxins (“highest priority critically important” antibiotics for human medicine according to WHO) are approved for use in large poultry-producing regions, with the exception of fluoroquinolones in the US and cephalosporins in the EU. The approval of cephalosporins in China could not be evaluated. Tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and penicillins are registered for use in poultry in all evaluated countries. The average resistance rates in E. coli to representatives of these antibiotic classes are higher than 40% in all countries, with the exception of ampicillin in the US. The resistance rates to fluoroquinolones and quinolones in the US, where fluoroquinolones are not registered for use, are below 5%, while the average of resistant E. coli is above 40% in Brazil, China, and EU, where use of fluoroquinolones is legalized. However, banning of fluoroquinolones and quinolones has not totally eliminated the occurrence of resistant populations.

Phylogenetic Diversity, Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Virulence Characteristics of Escherichia coli Isolates from Pigeon Meat

“…Notably, exposure to anthropogenic factors such as human refuse or livestock farming may encourage resistant bacteria to colonise these birds, while also facilitating exposure to antimicrobial medication, antimicrobial residues or resistant genes, contributing to the development and maintenance of antibiotic resistance in the microbiota of these animals [6,10,37,38]. In fact, several antibiotics to which considerable prevalence of resistance was observed (e.g., tetracycline) are regularly used as prophylactic or therapeutic agents in animal production [39]. It should be noted, however, that due to the impact of both livestock and human densities on the environment, very slight differences between domestic and wild pigeons with respect to resistance to antibiotics were reported in a previous study [31].…”

Poultry Farms as a Potential Source of Environmental Pollution by Pharmaceuticals

“…The enhanced antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains was recently shown in Escherichia coli isolates from chicken manure originating from intensive breeding farms [24]. In regards to the presence of antibiotic resistant strains in the soil around intensive breeding farms, the information is scarce.…”

“…Microbial resistance of selected soil bacterial isolates was performed for five different antibiotics, two of which (TMP and SMZ) were determined in soil samples in this study. Three other antibiotics (TET, SPEC and CIP) were analyzed since they prove to be the ones that are commonly used in chicken treatment during their growth in intensive breeding farms [23,24]. The average inhibition zones for bacterial strains isolated from different sampling points situated in zones A, B and, C around the poultry breeding farm are presented in Table 3.…”

Cluster analysis of resistance combinations in Escherichia coli from different human and animal populations in Germany 2014-2017

“…AR in non-clinical E. coli isolates from broilers is associated with the antimicrobial use in poultry production. Resistance proportions in E. coli against penicillins and uoroquinolones are reported to be 40% higher in countries which have allowed the use of these two antibiotics in poultry than countries which have not (42). In Germany, ampicillin and enro oxacin, a uoroquinolone with a similar chemical structures as cipro oxacin, are authorized antibiotics for the treatment of poultry (43).…”