Summary
Researchers found that 50% of 118 stool samples from Nigerian slaughterhouse workers tested positive for multi-drug resistant (MDR) E. coli bacteria. Significant risk factors were eating at the slaughterhouse, animal waste collection and keeping animals at home. Hand hygiene was identified as a significant protective factor. Some strengths of this study are the random selection process of participants and the consideration of other factors that could also affect risk (e.g., gender and level of education). A limitation of this study is that the risk for MDR E. coli colonization in slaughterhouse workers was not compared with the risk in the general population. Additionally, a majority of workers reported to have taken antimicrobial drugs in the last months, but whether this influenced the risk for MDR was not reported. On the basis of their findings the authors recommend antimicrobial resistance awareness programs and the encouragement of hand hygiene for the particularly vulnerable group of slaughterhouse workers.
The increasing occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in human and animal population has become a global public health problem that requires immediate intervention. We aimed to investigate prevalence and risk factors for faecal carriage of drug-resistant E. coli among slaughterhouse workers. We conducted this cross-sectional study among 118 apparently healthy workers in the largest slaughterhouses in Abuja and Lagos from July to December 2020. E. coli was isolated from stool samples of slaughterhouse workers and antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was defined as resistance to three or more classes of antibiotics. Majority were males: 88.1% (n = 104), aged > 41 years: 28.8% (n = 34), married: 70.3% (n = 83), and were butchers: 53.4% (n = 63). Prevalence of MDR E. coli was 50% (n = 59), highest among butchers compared to slaughterhouse cleaners. Of 75 E. coli isolates identified, 25.3% (n = 19) were ESBL producers; 78.7% (n = 59) were MDR. Keeping animals (p = 0.01); eating at the slaughterhouse (p = 0.03) and collecting waste (p = 0.02) remained independent risk factors for acquiring MDR E. coli. Prevalence of resistant E. coli was highest among butchers and associated with keeping animals at home, eating at work, and waste-collection. Hand-hygiene and responsible use of antibiotics among slaughterhouse workers should be encouraged.