Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: To determine the frequency of quinupristin-dalfopristin-resistant E. faecium, we used selective medium to culture samples from chickens purchased in supermarkets in Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, and Oregon and stool samples from outpatients. RESULTS: Between July 1998 and June 1999, samples from 407 chickens from 26 stores in four states were cultured, as were 334 stool samples from outpatients. Quinupristin-dalfopristin-resistant E. faecium was isolated from 237 chicken carcasses and 3 stool specimens. The resistant isolates from stool had low-level resistance (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC], 4 microg per milliliter; resistance was defined as a MIC of at least 4 microg per milliliter). The resistant isolates from chickens in general had higher levels of resistance (MICs ranging from 4 to 32 microg per milliliter; MIC required to inhibit 50 percent of isolates, 8 microg per milliliter). CONCLUSIONS:
Quinupristin-dalfopristin-resistant E. faecium contaminates a large proportion of chickens sold in U.S. supermarkets. However, the low prevalence and low level of resistance of these strains in human stool specimens suggest that the use of virginiamycin in animals has not yet had a substantial influence. Foodborne dissemination of resistance may increase, however, as the clinical use of quinupristin-dalfopristin increases.
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Authors | L C McDonald, S Rossiter, C Mackinson, Y Y Wang, S Johnson, M Sullivan, R Sokolow, E DeBess, L Gilbert, J A Benson, B Hill, F J Angulo |
Journal | The New England journal of medicine
(N Engl J Med)
Vol. 345
Issue 16
Pg. 1155-60
(Oct 18 2001)
ISSN: 0028-4793 [Print] United States |
PMID | 11642231
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
- Virginiamycin
- quinupristin
- dalfopristin
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Topics |
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents
(pharmacology)
- Chickens
(microbiology)
- Drug Resistance, Microbial
- Enterococcus faecium
(drug effects, isolation & purification)
- Feces
(microbiology)
- Humans
- Meat
(microbiology)
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests
- United States
- Virginiamycin
(analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
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