Reference | Chauvin_2005_PrevVeteMedi (10266)

Our study was based on the nation-wide monitoring programme of resistance of animal bacteria (including E. faecium). This annual monitoring programme is based on a sampling plan achieved at the slaughterhouse on healthy animals by veterinary services. Ten slaughterhouses were selected by the French Ministry to participate to this programme according to their geographical location, the number of broilers slaughtered and the production type slaughtered. Purpose was to represent in the monitoring programme all the broiler production slaughtered in France. A case was defined as any broiler sampled during the monitoring programme from which an E. faecium strain resistant to avilamycin was isolated. Control broilers were defined as broilers whose E. faecium isolate was susceptible to avilamycin. Case and control broilers were matched, according to recommendations of Harris et al. (2001) and Steinke and Davey (2001), by the slaughterhouse, the time of sampling and the production type. Control broilers were sampled at the same slaughterhouse and on the same month as the cases broiler and both were reared according to the same production type. Sample collection for the monitoring programme was suspended during the period August–December 1999. From the 577 E. faecium strains isolated from June 1999 to July 2000 with those 5 months excluded, 101 avilamycin-resistant E. faecium were included in the study and matched with control strains. A total of 94 strains isolated in 1999 and 108 strains isolated in 2000 were included in the study. An average of 14 strains per month (from 2 to 36) were included. Eight strains were from broilers reared according to a light production type, 14 from a free-range production type and 180 from a standard production type.

In the 10 slaughterhouses, the previously trained veterinary officers selected a ‘‘healthy’’ broiler carcass on the slaughterline during the evisceration process, according to a previously transmitted plan. One sample per batch of broilers belonging to the same flock coming to the slaughterhouse was collected. This sampling strategy was adopted for the national antibiotic resistance-monitoring programme, according to international recommendations like Office International des Epizooties guidelines (Franklin et al., 2003). Caeca were taken and placed in a sterile bag. Secondly, the veterinary officers collected the antibiotic consumption data of the flock corresponding to the broiler sampled: in-feed growth promoters and therapeutic antibiotics used. Information was provided to the veterinary officers by feed suppliers, production companies and farmers, through personal interviews and tracing documents such as onfarm recording forms. This information and the flock characteristics (stocking date, type of production: light, standard or free-range) were transmitted to the French Food Safety Agency Laboratory.

AST Method: Multiple Methods

Reference explicitly reports AST breakpoints: True

Reference reports using a MIC table: False