Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109240

Ellen Silbergeld, PhD, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Room 6010, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (410) 502-5775, esilberg@jhsph.edu

Use of antibiotics as growth promoting feed additives in food animal production has been associated with increased prevalence of antibiotic resistant (ABR) bacteria on food products. In addition, increasing numbers of outbreaks of food borne ABR infections have been reported in many countries.

Less research has been conducted on potential nonfood pathways of exposure to ABR bacteria from CAFOs despite evidence for ABR bacteria in CAFO wastes and in soils and surface/groundwater near CAFOs. We have conducted several studies in Maryland at swine and poultry CAFOs. Near a swine CAFO, we found broad environmental dispersion of tetracycline-resistant enterococci and tet resistance genes. In another study, we collected particles in air inside a swine CAFO. Enterococcus sp, Streptococcus sp, and Staphylococcus sp were isolated and identified and the Enterococcus sp and the viridans group streptococci isolates were tested for resistance to 5 classes of antibiotics used as growth promoters in swine. Of these isolates, 98% were resistant to at least two antibiotics, and 93% were resistant to three drugs. No isolates were resistant to vancomycin, an antibiotic never approved for use in animal agriculture in the US. In studies of poultry house workers and growers, we found high rates of Campylobacter jejuni and Enterococcus sp carriage. Among the latter, there was a high prevalence of resistance to the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, still permitted for flock-wide application in the US. These studies indicate the potential importance of nonfood pathways of exposure to ABR bacteria for workers and communities near CAFOs.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss and educate public health audience on the issue of the use of antibiotics in agriculture and the direct impact this has on workers as well as the community.

Keywords: Agricultural Work Safety, Antibiotic Resistance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.