Antibiotic resistance and Campylobacteriosis pose growing health risks

The rise of aggressive, antibiotic-resistant bacterial mutations poses a significant threat to global health. Campylobacteriosis is identified as the most widespread zoonosis transmitted to humans in Europe, with an average of 246,000 cases annually. Poultry farming is responsible for approximately 20-30% of these human infections.

To mitigate risks, experts emphasize the importance of thorough cooking of poultry meat and maintaining strict hygiene in food preparation areas, storage centers, and restaurants. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides monitoring tools and expert opinions to manage food contamination risks involving pathogens such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli.

On a microbiological level, bacteria can develop resistance rapidly through spontaneous DNA mutations or horizontal gene transfer via plasmids and bacteriophages. Because bacteria can reproduce as quickly as every 20 minutes, resistance can emerge within just a few cellular generations, making the misuse of antibiotics a critical driver of this global health challenge.