Widespread dissemination of Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter resistant to medically important antimicrobials in the poultry production continuum in Canada

The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) has found that broiler breeders carry foodborne bacteria resistant to antimicrobials used in human medicine. The Chicken Farmers of Canada implemented a strategy to reduce antimicrobial use in 2014, and a study was conducted to assess the frequency of target bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in poultry production. The study found that Salmonella was most frequently detected in farm broiler chickens (46%), and Campylobacter was most frequently detected (73%). This suggests the need for a harmonized sector-wide AMU strategy to address AMR in poultry production.