The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed the presence of dangerous bacteria that can resist medicines in broiler chickens sold in Kerala. This antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria develop the ability to beat drugs, has also been found in the Telangana samples. The rampant usage of antibiotics in poultry farms is responsible for this condition. The ICMR has also prepared a list of bacteria that defeated the medicines in the samples collected. It is alarming that the list includes many dangerous bacteria like the Klebsiella Pneumoniae Staphylococcus. Besides, e-coli bacteria that causes dysentery and staphylococcus bacteria that causes skin diseases, too, have been found in the samples. Many bacteria cannot be destroyed even by cooking on high heat. 

In the study conducted by dividing Kerala into three zones, antimicrobial resistance was mostly found in the samples collected from the southern zone. The study was conducted by collecting chicken droppings and separating DNA from them. The latest findings have posed a challenge to the health sector. The treatment for the diseases caused by these bacteria would be ineffective due to their antimicrobial resistance. The study was led by Dr Shoby Veleri and included Dr Ajmal Azeem, Parthi Sagar, and N Samyuktakumar Reddy on the team. Meanwhile, the study has been published in the international journal of the drug safety division at ICMR’s National Institute of Nutrition. 

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How to buy safe broiler chicken?
1) Buy from reputable butchers and grocery stores, certified organic or other farms. Opt for organic chicken whenever possible, as they are free of hormones
2) Avoid frozen chicken and buy fresh chicken whenever possible. Frozen chicken can have added preservatives and water and taste different.
3) When you purchase, opt for chicken that's already trimmed and deboned. These processes should be done following diligent food safety measures to avoid contamination.

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