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Environmental Information Center Updated: "2011/04/27 11:20" Hong Meihui
Excerpted and translated from an April 17, 2011, ENS report from Flagstaff, Arizona, USA; compiled by Chen Yaqi; reviewed by Cai Liling
A high percentage of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been detected in poultry and livestock meat products in U.S. retail supermarkets. Staphylococcus aureus is associated with many human diseases. This marks the first national testing of this bacterium in the U.S. food industry.
The journal *Clinical Infectious Diseases*, published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), reported that 47%—nearly half—of the meat samples tested were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. Among these contaminated samples, 52%—more than half—were resistant to at least three types of antibiotics.
Conducted by the Translational Genomics Research Institute, this study confirmed through DNA testing that the meat itself was the source of the infection.
The research was carried out in five U.S. cities—Los Angeles, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Flagstaff, and Washington, D.C.—with 136 samples collected from 26 retail supermarkets, covering 80 brands of beef, pork, chicken, and turkey.
Dr. Lance Price, senior researcher of the study and director of the Center for Food Microbiology and Environmental Health at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, stated, "This is the first time we have understood the extent of Staphylococcus aureus contamination in U.S. meat and poultry, as well as their antibiotic resistance. This finding is critically important."
Price added, "The fact that drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is widespread in meat and likely originates from the animals themselves is concerning. However, what’s even more noteworthy is how antibiotics are currently used in food production."
The study, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts as part of the *Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming*, noted that in high-density livestock farms, animals and poultry are continuously fed low doses of antibiotics. This creates an ideal breeding ground for drug-resistant bacteria, which can then transfer from animals to humans.
Although Staphylococcus aureus can be eliminated through proper cooking, improper food handling or cross-contamination in the kitchen can still pose risks to consumers.
Staphylococcus aureus causes a range of illnesses, from skin infections to life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia, endocarditis, and sepsis.
Dr. Price, also a senior science advisor for the Pew Charitable Trusts, remarked, "Antibiotics are our most important weapon against Staphylococcus aureus. But when the bacteria become resistant to three, four, five, or even nine different antibiotics—as shown in this study—doctors are left with almost no options."
In fact, U.S. authorities regularly inspect retail meat for four types of drug-resistant bacteria, excluding Staphylococcus aureus. However, this study suggests that meat regulation requires a more comprehensive testing program.
On April 7, World Health Day, IDSA launched an initiative to combat deadly drug-resistant "superbugs."
Dr. James Hughes, president of IDSA, stated, "The way we’ve managed antibiotics over the past 70 years has gone wrong.""Antibiotics are a precious resource, just like energy, and we have a moral obligation to ensure that future generations can also benefit from them."
"To address this crisis, IDSA has a comprehensive, multifaceted plan, but time is running out. If Congress, federal agencies, and healthcare institutions do not implement these measures now, more and more lives across the United States will be at risk, even lost."
Hughes stated, "An increasing number of bacteria are developing resistance to current antibiotics, yet fewer and fewer companies are investing in the development of new antibiotics."
IDSA issued a grave warning, stating, "Unless comprehensive action is taken now, humanity may return to the pre-antibiotic era—a time when mortality rates from infections were extremely high due to the absence of these miraculous drugs."
**Staph Bacteria Found on Half U.S. Meat, Poultry**
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona, April 17, 2011 (ENS)
For the full article and images, see: ENS report
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 110427/ 109/ 2qjb5. html
US Meat Found with Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Excerpted and translated from an April 17, 2011, ENS report from Flagstaff, Arizona, USA; compiled by Chen Yaqi; reviewed by Cai Liling
A high percentage of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been detected in poultry and livestock meat products in U.S. retail supermarkets. Staphylococcus aureus is associated with many human diseases. This marks the first national testing of this bacterium in the U.S. food industry.
The journal *Clinical Infectious Diseases*, published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), reported that 47%—nearly half—of the meat samples tested were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. Among these contaminated samples, 52%—more than half—were resistant to at least three types of antibiotics.
Conducted by the Translational Genomics Research Institute, this study confirmed through DNA testing that the meat itself was the source of the infection.
The research was carried out in five U.S. cities—Los Angeles, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Flagstaff, and Washington, D.C.—with 136 samples collected from 26 retail supermarkets, covering 80 brands of beef, pork, chicken, and turkey.
Dr. Lance Price, senior researcher of the study and director of the Center for Food Microbiology and Environmental Health at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, stated, "This is the first time we have understood the extent of Staphylococcus aureus contamination in U.S. meat and poultry, as well as their antibiotic resistance. This finding is critically important."
Price added, "The fact that drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is widespread in meat and likely originates from the animals themselves is concerning. However, what’s even more noteworthy is how antibiotics are currently used in food production."
The study, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts as part of the *Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming*, noted that in high-density livestock farms, animals and poultry are continuously fed low doses of antibiotics. This creates an ideal breeding ground for drug-resistant bacteria, which can then transfer from animals to humans.
Although Staphylococcus aureus can be eliminated through proper cooking, improper food handling or cross-contamination in the kitchen can still pose risks to consumers.
Staphylococcus aureus causes a range of illnesses, from skin infections to life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia, endocarditis, and sepsis.
Dr. Price, also a senior science advisor for the Pew Charitable Trusts, remarked, "Antibiotics are our most important weapon against Staphylococcus aureus. But when the bacteria become resistant to three, four, five, or even nine different antibiotics—as shown in this study—doctors are left with almost no options."
In fact, U.S. authorities regularly inspect retail meat for four types of drug-resistant bacteria, excluding Staphylococcus aureus. However, this study suggests that meat regulation requires a more comprehensive testing program.
On April 7, World Health Day, IDSA launched an initiative to combat deadly drug-resistant "superbugs."
Dr. James Hughes, president of IDSA, stated, "The way we’ve managed antibiotics over the past 70 years has gone wrong.""Antibiotics are a precious resource, just like energy, and we have a moral obligation to ensure that future generations can also benefit from them."
"To address this crisis, IDSA has a comprehensive, multifaceted plan, but time is running out. If Congress, federal agencies, and healthcare institutions do not implement these measures now, more and more lives across the United States will be at risk, even lost."
Hughes stated, "An increasing number of bacteria are developing resistance to current antibiotics, yet fewer and fewer companies are investing in the development of new antibiotics."
IDSA issued a grave warning, stating, "Unless comprehensive action is taken now, humanity may return to the pre-antibiotic era—a time when mortality rates from infections were extremely high due to the absence of these miraculous drugs."
**Staph Bacteria Found on Half U.S. Meat, Poultry**
FLAGSTAFF, Arizona, April 17, 2011 (ENS)
For the full article and images, see: ENS report
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……rl/ d/ a/ 110427/ 109/ 2qjb5. html