Isolation of Extended Spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli at Poultry Processing Plant in Miyagi, Japan

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the extent of contamination with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and cross contamination at a large-scale poultry processing plant that annually slaughters over 300,000 broilers in Miyagi. ESBL-producing E. coli strains were isolated from 65% of broiler samples (78/120), which were collected from the superficial pectoralis, including the proximal skin following evisceration. The major ESBL type identified was CTX‐M, based on the detection of the bla _{CTX‐M‐1 group} and the bla _{CTX‐M‐2 group} ESBL genes. Although O serotypes O18, O111, O153, and O157 were identified, many of the E. coli strains were of unknown serotype. These results differed among farms, indicating that the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were farm-specific, with a low possibility of cross contamination prior to evisceration at the poultry processing plant. The contamination of poultry meat by ESBL-producing E. coli in Miyagi was quite high, indicating the need to implement not only effective but preventive strategies for contamination with antibiotic-resistant bacteria at each farm and poultry processing plant.