Hand And Cutting Board Hygiene Can Prevent Spread Of Drug-Resistant Poultry Bacteria

A study of household and hospital kitchens by Swiss researchers found that cutting boards and gloves were major vehicles for transmission of multi-drug resistant bacteria, including E. coli. The researchers analyzed 298 cutting boards used in the preparation of various meats and fish, and 20 pairs of food-handling gloves used in preparation of poultry. They found that 6.5 percent of hospital cutting boards used to prepare poultry were contaminated with drug-resistant E. coli. They found drug-resistant E. coli on 3.5 percent of the household cutting boards. And they found that half of the hospital kitchen gloves were contaminated with drug-resistant E. coli. The researchers said the findings emphasize the need for hand hygiene after handling raw poultry and after handling cutting boards.