Potential antibiotic resistant bacteria in food

About 50% of food from livestock and seafood is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, many strains of E.coli are isolated against at least 6 antibiotics.

This is the initial research result from the Research project on the mechanism of propagation and construction of a multi-drug resistant surveillance model in the food chain in Vietnam published by the Institute of Nutrition on January 11 in Hanoi. The project is supported by Japan, implemented in 5 provinces including Hanoi, Thai Binh, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho with the participation of the Institute of Nutrition, Pasteur Institute of Nha Trang and the Institute of Public Health in Ho Chi Minh City. HCM, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho University .

According to Ms. Bui Thi Mai Huong, Department of Food Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Nutrition, the initial research results from the project showed that the situation of disseminating antibiotic resistant bacteria in food in Vietnam has at an alarming rate . Specifically, more than 60% of healthy people carry germs with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, about 50% of food from cattle and aquatic animals infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is a consequence of the use of antibiotics in communities and livestock in Vietnam. This result is similar to Southeast Asian countries.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are latent in many foods.(Artwork: Xuan Ngoc).

To assess the level of E.coli contamination of food poisoning, the team took 330 food samples at markets, supermarkets and slaughterhouses in HCMC. Test results showed that ESBL-producing E.coli (antimicrobial effect) was detected in 150 samples, accounting for more than 45%. In particular, the highest prevalence is in chicken (nearly 93%), followed by pork (about 35%), beef (34%), fish / shrimp (29%).

In particular, the incidence of ESBL-producing E.coli from chicken samples is from slaughterhouses up to 100%. The cause may be bacterial contamination during slaughter, using water to clean hair.

The survey also showed that there are 342 ESBL-producing strains of E. coli isolated from 150 samples of contaminated food. Among them, 276 isolates (accounting for 80%) are resistant to at least 6 types of antibiotics.

According to statistics of the health sector, the rate of multi-resistance of E.coli in our country is about 20-25%, ranking the second among the dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The normal E.coli bacterium with third-generation antibiotic resistance is major such as ceftriaxone, cefuroxime . is a key drug in provincial hospitals. Sometimes there is a case of resistance to the carbapenem antibiotic group - the most powerful antibiotic available today.

In addition, the study of about 400 samples of unprocessed meat and seafood taken from slaughter houses, wholesale markets and HCMC retail markets also showed a very high rate of infection and antibiotic resistance to samonella strains (causing diarrhea). Specifically, the rate of samella infection was detected in pork (nearly 70%), poultry (over 65%), beef (about 58%), shrimp (49%), freshwater fish raised (nearly 37%). ).

Researchers believe that awareness of drug resistance in the community and among health workers should be raised. In particular, more research is needed to determine clearly the mechanism of transmission and geographical epidemiological characteristics of drug-resistant bacteria in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said, Action on antibiotic resistance has been approved and implemented but it has not been effective yet. But from the project results once again alarmed and showed that it is time to be more aggressive in controlling antibiotic abuse.

Accordingly, in addition to raising awareness for people and proactively controlling the use of antibiotics in livestock, the health sector will pay special attention to raising awareness for health workers and supervising the prescription.