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Background: Bacteria that have acquired antimicrobial resistance, in particular ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, are an important healthcare concern. Therefore, transmission routes and risk factors are of interest, especially for the carriage of ESBL-producing E. coli. Since there is an enhanced risk for pig slaughterhouse employees to carry ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, associated with animal contact as potential risk factor, the present study investigated the occurrence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in poultry slaughterhouse employees. Due to the higher level of resistant Enterobacteriaceae in primary poultry production than in pig production, a higher risk of intestinal colonization of poultry slaughterhouse employees was expected. Results: ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were detected in 5.1% (5 of 99) of the fecal samples of slaughterhouse workers. The species of these isolates was confirmed as E. coli. PCR assays revealed the presence of the genes blaCTX-M-15 (n = 2) and blaSHV-12 (n = 3) in these isolates, partly in combination with the β-lactamase gene blaTEM-135. Participants were divided into two groups according to their occupational exposure and results indicated an increased probability of colonization with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae for the group of 'higher exposure' (OR 3.7, exact 95% CI 0.6–23.5; p = 0.4). For intestinal colonization with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, a prevalence of 10% (3/30) was observed in the group of 'higher exposure' versus 2.9% (2/69) in the group of 'lower exposure'. Employees in working steps such as 'hanging' poultry in the process of slaughter and 'evisceration' seemed to have a higher risk for intestinal colonization with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae compared to the group of 'lower exposure'. Conclusion: This study is the first of its kind to collect data on the occupational exposure of slaughterhouse workers to ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Europe. The results suggested that colonization with ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae is associated with occupational exposure in poultry slaughterhouses. However, the presence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates in only 5.1% (5/99) of the tested employees in poultry slaughterhouses suggests a lower transmission risk than in pig slaughterhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalisation, international trade and the ever-growing flow of goods and people enable animal diseases and zoonotic pathogens to travel worldwide. The risk of reintroducing previously eradicated animal diseases into the European Union is omnipresent as considerable amounts of food products of animal origin (POAO) from endemic countries are continuously imported legally and illegally into the EU. Additionally, these products may be potential vectors for emerging foodborne zoonoses, which are of public health concern due to their significant morbidity and mortality rates. This review summarises the legal background of veterinary public health measures and provides a critical overview on recent epidemiological studies, which analysed 1577 illegally imported POAO for major foodborne zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in indicator bacteria. The samples rarely exceeded microbiological contamination levels of domestic products for Salmonella, Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli and thermophilic Campylobacter spp. However, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were the most frequently detected pathogens in illegally imported meat and meat products (5% and 4.3%, respectively) and S. aureus in milk and milk products (7.4%). The most likely source of those zoonotic pathogens in illegally imported POAO are cross contamination and improper hygiene measures while handling, processing and storage. Moreover, uncommon and genetically distant variants including antimicrobial resistant foodborne pathogens such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus or extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were discovered. The introduction of POAO poses a largely underestimated threat, both to animal and public health., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)