Food Safety
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • ENEWSLETTER >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • Sponsor Insights
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
NewsContamination ControlMicrobiological

Study Links AMR in Salmonella Kentucky to Imported Food

By Bailee Henderson
rod shaped bacteria propelling

Credit: sbtlneet via Pixabay

August 15, 2022

A recent study published in Foodborne Pathogens and Disease has provided new insights about the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of foodborne Salmonella Kentucky. The study’s findings suggest that many human infections of a specific, antimicrobial-resistant sequence type (ST) of S. Kentucky may be linked to the consumption of food products that are imported or consumed while abroad. Additionally, the study found unique differences in the composition of virulence genes and AMR genes among various S. Kentucky clades, which may provide information about the host specificity and pathogenicity of S. Kentucky lineages.

According to data gathered from the U.S. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), S. Kentucky is frequently isolated from the ceca of chickens (29 percent of isolates) and dairy cattle (3.7 percent of isolates), and is the predominant serovar found in retail chicken products (28 percent of isolates). Despite S. Kentucky’s predominance in certain agricultural animals and agrifood products, historically, the pathogen has caused very few human clinical infections. However, the recent global emergence of multidrug-resistant S. Kentucky strains in humans has created cause for concern, as the trend indicates evolutionary pathways for the serotype toward more virulent subtypes that can become common causes of human illness. Therefore, the study aimed to better describe the genetic diversity, AMR, and virulence characteristics of S. Kentucky isolates sampled from a variety of sources.

Using NARMS data, researchers conducted whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis on 774 S. Kentucky isolates sampled from humans, food animal ceca, retail meat and poultry products, imported foods and food products, and other samples. Of the S. Kentucky samples that were analyzed, 63 percent of human isolates and 9.2 percent of cecal isolates and retail meat and poultry isolates were ST198. Isolates from imported food belonged to ST198 at a rate of 60 percent. The study’s researchers divided ST198 into distinct clades, one of which comprised almost entirely isolates from humans and imported foods that all contained mutations that lead to fluoroquinolone resistance.

Although human clinical illness associated with S. Kentucky is low, ST198 appears to account for most human infections in the U.S., and the ST is not commonly prevalent among ceca of domestic food animals and retail meat and poultry products. Combined with human exposure data, the findings suggest that fluoroquinolone-resistant ST198 infections may be linked to the consumption of food products that are imported or consumed while abroad. The study also concludes that the presence of virulence genes in some STs and absence in others provides clues to the apparent pathogenicity of S. Kentucky.

KEYWORDS: AMR Salmonella study whole genome sequencing

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Baileehendersonmay23

Bailee Henderson is the Digital Editor of Food Safety Magazine. She can be reached at hendersonb@bnpmedia.com.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Testing & Analysis
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Training
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Best Practices
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to eNewsletter
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Deli Salads
    Sponsored byCorbion

    How Food Safety is Becoming the Ultimate Differentiator in Refrigerated and Prepared Foods

Popular Stories

recalled sysco and lyons imperial nutritional shakes

Listeria Outbreak Linked to Nutritional Shakes Served at Healthcare Facilities Causes 14 Deaths

Image of fish on ice

Common Fish Food Poisoning Types and Prevention Methods

Scientist inspecting food substance with microscope

FDA Announces ‘Proactive’ Post-Market Chemical Review Program to Keep Food Supply Safe

Events

June 12, 2025

Additive Bans Ahead: Your Guide to Avoiding Risk and Maintaining Agility

Live: June 12, 2025 at 12:00 pm EDT: From this webinar, attendees will learn how ingredient bans will impact product development, labeling, and sourcing.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products
Environmental Monitoring Excellence eBook

Related Articles

  • roasted pork

    Study Finds High AMR Levels in Salmonella in Pork

    See More
  • fruit in plastic bag

    Study Links Phthalate Used in Food Packaging to Tumor Growth

    See More
  • multicolor 3d rendering of dna

    Researchers Use Publicly Available WGS Data to Investigate AMR in Salmonella

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9781138070912.jpg

    Trends in Food Safety and Protection

  • 9781498721776.jpg

    Handbook of Food Processing: Food Safety, Quality, and Manufacturing Processes

  • Food-Forensics-3D.jpg

    Food Forensics Handbook Practice, Instrumentation, Case Studies

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • August 29, 2024

    Understanding and Addressing Biofilm Communities and Behavior in the Food Plant

    On Demand: In this webinar, speakers with expertise in industry food safety, sanitation, and genomics will provide education on the formation and behavior of biofilms and the challenges they pose to food safety and sanitation operations.
View AllSubmit An Event

Related Directories

  • Safe Food Alliance

    Safe Food Alliance is a full service food safety partner. We offer laboratory testing, training and consulting services, and third party audits through our sister company Safe Food Certifications.
  • QualiTru Sampling Systems

    Since 1983, QualiTru Sampling Systems® (formerly QMI) has been the leader in the science of aseptic liquid sampling with innovative, easy-to-use, versatile and cost‑effective sampling systems that help the dairy, beverage and liquid food industries produce safe, quality products across the U.S. and in over 30 countries worldwide.
  • Puritan Medical Products Co.

    Puritan is an American company known worldwide as the trusted manufacturer of single-use products for the healthcare, diagnostic, forensic, critical environment, food safety, and drug manufacturing industries. At Puritan, we take pride in our unwavering commitment to producing high-quality products. Order with confidence, knowing that Puritan products are manufactured, packaged and shipped from our state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Maine. We maintain valuable relationships with many of America’s top distributors and kit manufacturers in order to ensure that all industries have access to our extensive product portfolio.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

eNewsletter | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing