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Antibiotic use in poultry processing has been controversial for some time now, but researchers now say workers who handle "broiler chickens" in manufacturing plants are at risk of contracting drug-resistant E. coli.

Public health investigators at Johns Hopkins University estimate that workers in poultry factories in the U.S. are 32 times more likely to be colonized with E. coli that repels the antibiotic gentamicin than people in other lines of work. The antibiotic drug is used to treat both poultry and humans.

"We are running out of antibiotics to treat human infections," said Lance Price, who led a study evaluating antibiotic use in the broiler chicken industry.

Price theorizes that worker exposure serves as a conduit of gentamicin-resistant E. coli to communities at large. As workers interact with others, resistant strains can spread, ultimately rendering the drug useless. "Many of these workers wear uniforms," he said, which often are laundered at home and handled by other household members who can be exposed.

Consumers can be exposed to drug-resistant bacteria during chicken preparation, Price said, but following strict rules of hygiene, and keeping raw chicken separated from other foods, can prevent colonization.

Antibiotics have been used for decades but the birds' exposure has grown with the increasing scope of the industry. Price said anti-microbials are also used in the pork and beef industries.

Reference:

"Report: Poultry workers may spread E. coli," Newsday.com, Delthia Ricks, December 2007.