Many foodstuffs have drug-resistant germs

Researchers processed 150 samples of vegetable salad, raw egg-surface, raw chicken, unpasteurised milk and raw meat to isolate E. coli to study their antibiotic susceptibility. The highest levels of drug resistance was detected from raw chicken (23.3 per cent) followed by vegetable salad (20), raw meat (13.3, raw egg surface (10) and unpasteurised milk (6.7 per cent), according to the paper. Overall, drug resistant E. coli was found to be present in 14.7 per cent of the samples.

Dr Mohammed Rashee-duddin, one of the researchers, said: “Bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics or other drugs is a worldwide issue. In Germany doctors found it difficult to tackle an outbreak of E. coli O104, which had the multi-drug resistant enzyme Extended Spectrum beta-Lacta-mase in it.” The bacteria caused a few deaths and left others with life-threatening infections, Dr Rasheeduddin said. He said in Hyderabad, six E. coli samples were found with ESBL enzymes which had developed resistance to 14 antibiotics.

“This is a serious cause for worry. Good hygienic practices are necessary in the abattoirs and poultry farms to prevent contamination of cattle and poultry products as well as forbidding the use of untreated sewage in irrigating vegetables,” Dr Rasheduddin said.

Antibiotics administered to humans and animals passe into sewage through faecal and other waste. The bacteria in this sewage water develops strains resistant to the antibiotics.

As the sewage is not treated properly, it enters lakes and rivers, causing a mutation of bacteria in those water bodies. The same water is used for irrigation and supplied to animals for drinking, and the drug-resistant bacteria enters the food chain, the researchers said.