Low-Level Fluoroquinolone Resistanceamong Campylobacter jejuni Isolates in Australia
Leanne E. Unicomb,2,7 John Ferguson,3,4 Russell J. Stafford,1 Rosie Ashbolt,6 Martyn D. Kirk,8 Niels G. Becker,7 Mahomed S. Patel,7 Gwendolyn L. Gilbert,8 Mary Valcanis,9 and Lance Mickan,10 for the Australian Campylobacter Subtyping Study Groupa
1OzFoodNet, Queensland Health, Archerfield, Queensland, 2OzFoodNet, Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, 3Hunter New EnglandHealth Service, Newcastle, 4University of Newcastle, Callaghan, and 5Centre for Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, Institute of ClinicalPathology and Medical Research, Wentworthville, New South Wales, 6OzFoodNet, Department of Health and Human Service, Hobart, Tasmania,7National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australia National University, and 8OzFoodNet, Department of Health and Ageing,Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 9Microbiological Diagnostic Unit, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne,Parkville, Victoria, and 10Institute of Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Rundle Mall, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Background.
Ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter jejuni isolates obtained from infected patients in Australia
have not been detected in studies of isolates from specific geographic areas. The Australian government hasprohibited the use of fluoroquinolone in food-producing animals. To assess the impact of this policy, we haveexamined the antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from 5 Australian states. Methods.
We conducted a period-prevalence survey of the susceptibility of C. jejuni isolates to 10 antimicrobial
agents. C. jejuni isolates obtained from 585 patients from 5 Australian states (Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania,Victoria, and Western Australia) were identified by means of notifiable disease databases and were systematicallyselected from September 2001 to August 2002. Results.
Among locally acquired infections, only 2% of isolates (range, 0%–8% in different states) were resistant
to ciprofloxacin. The locally acquired isolates also exhibited resistance to sulfisoxazole (55%), ampicillin (46%),roxithromycin (38%), tetracycline (7%), nalidixic acid (6%), chloramphenicol (3%), erythromycin (3%), genta-micin (2%), and kanamycin (0.2%). Treatment with antimicrobial agents in the 4 weeks before onset was notassociated with ciprofloxacin resistance. Conclusions.
The very low level of ciprofloxacin resistance in C. jejuni isolates likely reflects the success of
Australia’s policy of restricting use of fluoroquinolones in food-producing animals. Campylobacter species are the most common bacterial
particularly resistance to fluoroquinolones [2, 5]. An-
cause of foodborne disease in Australia and other in-
timicrobial resistance may add to the burden of disease;
dustrialized countries [1–3] and constitute a substantial
fluoroquinolone-resistant organisms have been re-
health burden. The incidence of reported cases in Aus-
ported to be associated with more-severe disease [6],
tralia was 116.5 cases per 100,000 persons in 2003 [1],
including diarrhea of a longer duration [7] and an in-
and ∼277,000 cases of Campylobacter infection are es-
creased likelihood of invasive disease and death [8].
The rising incidence of fluoroquinolone resistance has
In Europe and the United States, increasing propor-
been attributed to the use of fluoroquinolones in food-
tions of patients are infected with strains of Campy-
producing animals [5] and has been reflected in the
lobacter species exhibiting antimicrobial resistance,
high prevalence of ciprofloxacin-resistant animal Cam-pylobacter isolates in animals in those countries [9].
Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance is important
for monitoring trends. Data regarding antimicrobial re-
Received 6 November 2005; accepted 23 January 2006; electronically published
sistance among Campylobacter isolates in Australia are
a Members of the study group are listed at the end of the text.
limited, and studies have been confined to specific geo-
Reprints or correspondence: Ms. Leanne Unicomb, National Centre for
Epidemiology and Population Health, Australia National University, Canberra, ACT
graphic regions [10–12]. Resistant isolates are not com-
0200, Australia ([email protected]).
mon, and fluoroquinolone resistance has not been de-
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2006; 42:1368–74
tected previously among locally acquired isolates [12].
ᮊ 2006 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. 1058-4838/2006/4210-0004$15.00
The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence
1368 • CID 2006:42 (15 May) • Unicomb et al.
of antimicrobial resistance among Australian isolates of Cam-
[13], and only C. jejuni isolates (subspecies jejuni or doylei)
pylobacter jejuni. Australia is in an almost unique position in
that it is has prohibited fluoroquinolones from being used in
Susceptibility testing was performed at each public health
food-producing animals, although it has animal production and
laboratory by the agar dilution method using Mueller-Hinton
food production systems comparable to those of other devel-
agar with 5% lysed sheep blood, in accordance with National
oped nations. By measuring the prevalence of fluoroquinolone
Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (now called
resistance among C. jejuni isolates obtained from Australian
Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI]), as de-
patients, some insight might be gained into the benefit of
scribed elsewhere [14]. MICs were defined as the lowest con-
stricter control over the use of medically important antimicro-
centration giving complete inhibition of visible growth. An-
bials in food animals. Prevalence of resistance was examined
timicrobial agents tested and breakpoints denoting resistance
for Campylobacter isolates obtained from patients from 5 ju-
were as follows: nalidixic acid, у32 mg/L; ciprofloxacin, у4
risdictions, representing ∼60% of the Australian population,
mg/L; tetracycline, у16 mg/L; ampicillin, у32 mg/L; eryth-
over a 1-year period and was compared by travel status and
romycin, у8 mg/L; roxithromycin, у8 mg/L; gentamicin, у8
mg/L; kanamycin, у32 mg/L; chloramphenicol, у32 mg/L;and sulfisoxazole, у 350 mg/L. Because there are no rec-
ommended breakpoints specifically for Campylobacter species,the CLSI breakpoints for Enterobacteriaceae were used, except
Study population. Campylobacter isolates were collected from
for erythromycin, for which the breakpoint for Staphylococcus
case-patients enrolled in a multicenter, prospective, case-con-
trol study of sporadic infection (to be reported separately). Thecase-patients were identified from laboratory reports from 5
Before the study began, a set of 8 isolates that had been
Australian states (Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Vic-
previously tested for susceptibility to 7 of the 10 agents used
toria, and Western Australia) between September 2001 and Au-
in the study [10] were tested by each laboratory to ensure
gust 2002. These jurisdictions represented all states that require
reproducibility of results. During the testing of study isolates,
doctors and laboratories to report patients infected with Cam-C. jejuni NCTC 11351 (same isolate as the CLSI-recom-
pylobacter species. The 2 Australian territories were not in-
mended ATCC 33560 [15]) was included as the control in
cluded, and New South Wales, where Campylobacter is not
notifiable, was not included. Each jurisdiction aimed to recruit
Statistical analyses.
∼200 patients of all ages using a systematic method of selection.
tients infected with ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates and patients
Patients were excluded if they could not be contacted, their
infected with susceptible isolates; (2) the prevalence of resis-
parents were not English speakers, they could not answer ques-
tance among locally acquired isolates and the prevalence among
tions (e.g., because of dementia or because they were deceased),
isolates acquired overseas; and (3) the severity of disease among
they could not recall the date of onset of their diarrhea, onset
patients infected with ciprofloxacin-susceptible Campylobacter
was у10 days before the specimen was collected, they could
and the severity of disease among patients infected with cip-
not be interviewed within 30 days after onset, another member
rofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter. The following severity in-
of the household had had diarrhea or had been diagnosed with
dicators were examined: duration of diarrhea, presence of blood
Campylobacter infection in the previous 4 weeks, they had a
in the stool, fever and vomiting, hospitalization, and length of
mixed infection (i.e., an additional diarrheal pathogen was si-
hospital stay. The 95% CIs for prevalence and ORs were based
multaneously detected), they were part of an outbreak, or they
on standard large sample methods for estimates of proportions.
Exact methods were used when counts were small. In particular,
A telephone-administered questionnaire was used to docu-
Fisher’s exact test was used to the compare prevalence of an-
ment exposures for the 7 days before onset of illness. Questions
timicrobial resistance in locally acquired isolates with the prev-
included details of overseas travel (country visited and travel
alence of resistance in travel-acquired isolates. Prevalences of
dates), demographic characteristics (age and sex), severity of
resistance among isolates from locally acquired infections were
illness (duration of diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, and vomit-
compared across jurisdictions and by antimicrobial exposure
ing), care management (hospital admission and duration of
status using likelihood ratio tests based on logistic regression,
hospitalization), consumption of antimicrobial agents in the 4
with potential confounders included in the analyses.
weeks before onset, and underlying diseases.
Logistic regression was also used to compare dichotomous
Laboratory methods.
measures of severity of illness, such as hospitalization and blood
transported from the clinical laboratory to the state public
in stool, whereas standard linear regression was used to com-
health laboratory for storage and additional testing. C. jejuni
pare continuous measures, such as duration of illness and
isolates were distinguished from non-jejuni species at each pub-
length of hospital stay. Statistical analyses were performed using
lic health laboratory using PCR that targeted the HipO gene
Australian Campylobacter Antimicrobial Resistance • CID 2006:42 (15 May) • 1369
95% CI, 0.2–10.2). No patient infected with a ciprofloxacin-resistant isolate had taken a fluoroquinolone in the 4 weeks
The characteristics of the study population, including the num-
before onset of illness. Nine (64%) of 14 patients with cipro-
ber of cases of Campylobacter infection reported during the
floxacin-resistant isolates were given antibiotic therapy for their
study period, the number of case-patients recruited, and the
Campylobacter infection, compared with 222 (40%) of 549 pa-
proportion of isolates tested, are summarized by state in table
tients with ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates; however, this dif-
1. Of the 585 isolates tested, 279 (48%) were from female
ference did not reach statistical significance (OR, 2.5; 95% CI,
patients, and the median age was 32 years (range, 0–93 years).
The proportion of Campylobacter isolates tested for antimicro-
Infection with a ciprofloxacin-resistant strain of C. jejuni
bial susceptibility from reported case-patients from each state
did not result in a more-severe illness, but the number of
ranged from 3% in Victoria to 14% in South Australia. The
patients that were infected with a ciprofloxacin-resistant strain
population under surveillance in the 5 participating states com-
of C. jejuni was small. There were no significant differences
prised ∼64% of the Australian population in 2001.
in the distribution of symptoms; compared with patients in-
Prevalences of resistance to the 10 antimicrobial agents
fected ciprofloxacin-susceptible strains, patients infected with
among locally acquired isolates is shown in table 2. Sulfisox-
ciprofloxacin-resistant strains were no more likely to have
azole resistance was the most common (55% of isolates), and
fever (68% vs. 74%; OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.4–5.9), or vomiting
only 2% of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin.
(38% vs. 35%; OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.6–4.5), or bloody stools
Ciprofloxacin resistance was found among locally acquired
(15% vs. 42%; OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.1–5.4). Duration of di-
isolates from all states except Tasmania (table 2). All 14 locally
arrhea was similar for patients infected with ciprofloxacin-
acquired isolates were also resistant to nalidixic acid, and 10
resistant strains and patients infected with ciprofloxacin-sen-
(71%) were resistant to 11 class of antimicrobial agent (table
sitive strains (median duration for both groups, 7 days;
3). Temporal clusters of infection were detected in Victoria
as were the percentage of patients requiring hos-
(November–December 2001 and January–February 2002) and
pitalization (14% vs. 13%; OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.2–3.6) and the
in South Australia (May 2002), but a variety of resistance phe-
length of hospital stay (median duration for both groups, 0
notypes were detected in these clusters, indicating that the iso-
days; P p .13) in multivariate models controlling for age and
lates were unlikely to be related (table 3). The prevalence of
underlying disease, regardless of travel status.
ciprofloxacin resistance in Victoria was higher than in all otherstates combined (9% vs. 2%; OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 2.1–18.5), but
DISCUSSION
this significant difference should be interpreted with care, be-
This is the first Australian study to report locally acquired
cause it is a post hoc comparison. When controlling for juris-
Campylobacter isolates resistant to fluoroquinolones. However,
diction, patients infected with ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates
the prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance among locally ac-
were more likely to have an underlying disease than those in-
quired isolates in Australia was low at 2% and ranged from
fected with ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates (OR 5.1; 95% CI,
0% to 8% across 5 states. The absence of ciprofloxacin-resistant
isolates in locally acquired infections in Australia has been at-
People who acquired Campylobacter infections overseas were
tributed previously to restricting the use of fluoroquinolones
more likely to be infected with resistant strains; 9 (82%) of 11
in food-producing animals. Data regarding antimicrobial sus-
overseas-acquired isolates were resistant to 11 class of anti-
ceptibility among Campylobacter isolates infecting Australian
microbial agent, compared with 291 (51%) of 574 locally ac-
food-producing animals is limited; however, Campylobacter iso-
quired isolates (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 0.9–41.9). Resistances to cip-
lates (all species) from pigs have been shown to be uniformly
rofloxacin and tetracycline were significantly more prevalent
susceptible to ciprofloxacin [17], likely reflecting the low prev-
among overseas-acquired isolates than they were among locally
alence of resistance in isolates obtained from Australian ani-
acquired isolates: ciprofloxacin, 64% vs. 2% (OR, 67.5; 95%
mals. The prevalence is similar to that described for humans
CI, 15.2–351.6); and tetracyline, 55% vs. 7% (OR, 16.7; 95%
from Sweden (between 0% and 9%), where the use of anti-
CI, 4.0–72.6). Nine of 11 patients had travelled to Asia (In-
biotics as growth promoters was banned in 1986 [18]. A low
donesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) during
prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance was also found among
the week before onset of illness; the remaining 2 patients had
isolates obtained from Swedish animals [9]. Among studies that
travelled to Africa and North and South America (data not
have separated locally acquired from travel-acquired isolates,
in countries that have allowed the use of fluoroquinolones for
Patients infected with locally acquired ciprofloxacin-resistant
animals, the prevalence of locally acquired ciprofloxacin resis-
strains were no more likely to have taken an antimicrobial agent
tance ranges from 7% to 29% [3, 19]. The overall prevalence
in the 4 weeks before onset, compared with patients infected
of ciprofloxacin resistance is much higher in some countries,
with ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates (6% vs. 7%; OR, 1.3;
probably reflecting widespread use of ciprofloxacin in humans
1370 • CID 2006:42 (15 May) • Unicomb et al. Summary of patients with Campylobacter infection and the Campylobacter jejuni isolates included in the study.
a All states that reported Campylobacter infections to the National Notifiable Diseases Database have been included in the study. Neither of the 2 territories were included. b Population estimated from the 2001 census (Australia Bureau of Statistics). c All Campylobacter-infected patients reported to National Notifiable Diseases Database [16]. d Species determined using PCR [13]. Percentage of locally acquired Campylobacter jejuni isolates resistant to 10 antimicrobial agents by state, September 2001–August 2002.
a Percentage of all isolates tested for resistance from the respective state that were resistant to the specified antimicrobial agent. Characteristics of patients infected with locally-acquired ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter jejuni.
Nalidixic acid, roxithromycin, sulfisoxazole
Nalidixic acid, tetracyline, ampicillin, gentamicin,
Nalidixic acid, ampicillin, roxithromycin
Nalidixic acid, ampicillin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, gentamicin
a Names of antimicrobial agents were not recorded. b Patient was admitted to a hospital.
in those regions. These regions include countries in which Aus-
of illness, but there was no association between this and cip-
tralian travellers are likely to acquire infection; for example,
180% of clinical isolates in Thailand have been reported to be
In our study, infection with a ciprofloxacin-resistant isolate
ciprofloxacin resistant [5], and 35% of clinical isolates in In-
was not associated with increased severity of illness; this con-
donesia were ciprofloxacin resistant [20].
trasts with a study from the United States, in which a similar
The source of resistant isolates from locally acquired infec-
number of patients infected with ciprofloxacin-resistant organ-
tions is unclear. It is possible that the case-patient had been
isms was more likely to be hospitalized and have bloody di-
overseas 17 days before the onset of illness or had direct contact
arrhea [25] than were patients infected with susceptible isolates.
with a recently returned traveller; however, person-to-person
A study [7] that described patients infected with ciprofloxacin-
transmission is uncommon [21]. Other possible sources include
resistant isolates who had prolonged diarrhea included 63 pa-
consumption of contaminated, imported food or acquisition
tients; it is possible that the larger sample size raised the sta-
of resistance during a hospital stay. However, only 2 of the 14
tistical power of the study to detect a difference.
patients infected with ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates had been
There are some limitations in generalizing the results of
admitted to a hospital for treatment. Furthermore, only cooked
this study to the Australian population. First, patients in-cluded in this study were identified through notifications and
chicken is permitted for importation into Australia [12], and
were, therefore, more likely to have had relatively severe in-
viable Campylobacter organisms are unlikely to be present.
fections, leading to presentation and a stool test. Second, we
Previous studies have shown that treatment of patients with
relied on self-reported information regarding overseas travel,
quinolones after onset of illness but before collection of the
antimicrobial therapy, and clinical symptoms, and this infor-
stool specimen is associated with detection of quinolone-resis-
mation was not validated. However, the potential measure-
tant isolates [22]. We did not collect information on the timing
ment bias resulting from this method was likely to be non-
of antimicrobial treatment or the agent used. However, patients
differential (i.e., occurring equally among patients infected
with ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates were significantly more
with resistant and susceptible strains).
likely to have been given antibiotic therapy for their infection
In summary, antimicrobial resistance among Australian
than were patients infected with susceptible isolates, and cip-
strains of C. jejuni is uncommon, excepting resistance to am-
rofloxacin is commonly used in Australia for the treatment of
picillin, roxithromycin, and sulfisoxazole. Of particular im-
enteric infections. Therefore, this explanation is plausible.
portance is that resistance to fluoroquinolone is very low and
Three previous Australian studies that reported travel his-
probably reflects Australia’s policy of prohibiting fluoroquin-
tories of patients examined 153, 140, and 50 isolates, respec-
olones for animal use. Sensible use of fluoroquinolones in clin-
tively [12]; the sample sizes in these studies may have been
ical treatment remains a high priority if a low prevalence of
insufficient to detect a low prevalence of resistant isolates. The
resistance in C. jejuni and other organisms is to be maintained.
reasons for variation in the apparent prevalence of locally ac-
The United States withdrew approval for the use of fluoro-
quired ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates by state of residence are
quinolones in animals following reports between 1994 and 1996
of the increasing levels of fluoroquinolone resistance. Such a
Resistance to sulfisoxazole, ampicillin, and roxithromycin
policy should be considered for wider adoption. The detection
was detected commonly among isolates obtained from patients
of ciprofloxacin resistance among locally acquired infections
that acquired their infections locally. The prevalence of am-
warrants additional investigations and ongoing surveillance.
picillin resistance in this study (46%) was similar to that re-ported in previous Australian studies [10, 11] and studies from
AUSTRALIAN CAMPYLOBACTER SUBTYPING
the United Kingdom [23]. Low levels of resistance were detected
STUDY GROUP
for erythromycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and kana-
Penny Adamson (Flinders Medical Centre, South Australia),
mycin, as reported in Australia [10, 24] and elsewhere [18, 19,
Kellie Cheung (Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Re-
23, 25]. Tetracycline resistance was low, which contrasts with
search, Westmead, New South Wales), Barry Combs (Depart-
findings from the United States [25] but is similar to findings
ment of Human Services, Adelaide, South Australia), Craig
from Europe [18, 19, 26]. Isolates from travel-associated cases
Dalton (Hunter New England Population Health, Newcastle,
were more commonly resistant to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin,
New South Wales), Steve Djordjevic (Elizabeth Macarthur Ag-
and tetracycline than were isolates from locally acquired cases,
ricultural Institute, Camden, New South Wales), Robyn Doyle
as found previously in Australia [10] and Denmark [19]. Iso-
(Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South
lates resistant to nalidixic acid and susceptible to ciprofloxacin
Australia), John Ferguson (Hunter New England Health Ser-
were found among travel-acquired and locally acquired isolates,
vice, Newcastle, New South Wales), Lyn Gilbert (Institute of
as found in other studies [10, 23]. Six percent of case-patients
Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, New
had taken an antimicrobial agent in the 4 weeks before onset
South Wales), Rod Givney (Department of Human Services,
Australian Campylobacter Antimicrobial Resistance • CID 2006:42 (15 May) • 1373
Adelaide, South Australia), David Gordon (Flinders Medical
8. Helms M, Simonsen J, Olsen KEP, Molbak K. Adverse health events
associated with antimicrobial drug resistance in Campylobacter spe-
Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia), Joy Gregory (Depart-
cies: a registry-based cohort study. J Infect Dis 2005; 191:1050–5.
ment of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria), Geoff Hogg
9. Bywater R, Deluyker H, Deroover E, et al. A European survey of
(Microbiological Diagnostic Unit, University of Melbourne,
antimicrobial susceptibility among zoonotic and commensal bacteriaisolated from food-producing animals. J Antimicrob Chemother
Parkville, Victoria), Tim Inglis (Division of Microbiology &
2004; 54:744–54.
Infectious Diseases, PathWest, Nedlands, Western Australia),
10. Sharma H, Unicomb L, Forbes W, Djordjevic S, Valcanis M, Dalton
Peter Jelfs (Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Re-
C, Ferguson J. Antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter jejuni isolated
search, Westmead, New South Wales), Martyn Kirk (Oz-
from humans in the Hunter Region, New South Wales. Commun Dis Intell 2003; 27 Suppl:S80–8.
FoodNet, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory), Karin Lalor
11. Alfredson DA, Akhurst RJ, Korolik V. Antimicrobial resistance and
(Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria), Jan
genomic screening of clinical isolates of thermophilic Campylobacter
Lanser (Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research,
spp. from south-east Queensland, Australia. J Appl Microbiol 2003; 94:495–500.
Westmead, New South Wales), Lance Mickan (Institute of Med-
12. Unicomb L, Ferguson J, Riley T, Collignon P. Absence of fluoro-
ical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia), Lyn
quinolone resistance among Campylobacter isolates from humans in
O’Reilly (Division of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases,
Australia. Emerg Infect Dis 2003; 9:1482–3.
13. Linton D, Lawson AJ, Owen RJ, Stanley J. PCR detection, identifi-
PathWest, Nedlands, Western Australia), Rosa Rios (Microbi-
cation to species level, and fingerprinting of Campylobacter jejuni
ological Diagnostic Unit, Parkville, Victoria), Minda Sarna (De-
and Campylobacter coli direct from diarrhoeic samples. J Clin Mi-
partment of Health, Perth, Western Australia), Hemant Sharma
crobiol 1997; 35:2568–72.
14. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS).
(Hunter New England Health Service, Newcastle New South
Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing: four-
Wales), Helen Smith (Queensland Health Scientific Services,
teenth informational supplement. NCCLS document M100-S14.
Coopers Plains, Queensland), Leanne Unicomb (OzFoodNet,
Wayne, Pennsylvania: NCCLS, 2004.
Hunter New England Population Health and National Centre
15. Euze´by JP. List of bacterial names with standing in nomenclature: a
folder available on the internet. Int J Systematic Bacteriol 1997; 47:
for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National
University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory), and Mary
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18. Osterlund A, Hermann M, Kahlmeter G. Antibiotic resistance among
Financial support.
The OzFoodNet program of work (an initiative of
Campylobacter jejuni/coli strains acquired in Sweden and abroad: a
the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing) and New
longitudinal study. Scand J Infect Dis 2003; 35:478–81.
South Wales Health (through the Hunter Medical Research Institute).
19. Danish Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring and Re-
Potential conflicts of interest.
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P.A.I.N.S Prescribing Advice In North Somerset Wc 13/5/13 Public Health England have issued information leaflets containing clinical advice and symp- toms about ticks & Lyme disease. These can be obtained from nd There is a local Public Health training evening for pharmacists and technicians on June 3rd at Castlewood to explain this year’s campaigns which include Be SunS