159121 Exploring the links between emerging community-associated infections and the agricultural environment

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 8:30 AM

Ezra J. Barzilay , Lead, National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
  
Several bacterial infections long considered to be nosocomial (hospital-acquired) now occur more in community settings. These include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, E. coli urinary tract infections (UTIs), and C. difficile colitis. New science links these community acquired outbreaks to farms and to food production. This presentation will summarize that science, explore the potential public health implications, and discuss the need to redefine food safety and foodborne illness to include many of the millions of urinary tract infections occurring in U.S. women each year.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe recent findings that demonstrate the transmission of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus from swine to humans. 2. Discuss the public health implications of a recent study suggesting that drug-resistant strains of E. coli causing urinary tract infections in humans may originate in food animals. 3. Recognize the expanding group of human bacterial infections thought to have origins in food and food animals.

Keywords: Emerging Diseases, Food Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Bugs, Drugs, and Flu: Human Health Impacts of Intensive Animal Agriculture (jointly organized by the Environment and Food & Nutrition Sections)
See more of: Environment