Occurrence and human exposure assessment of enteric bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance in North Carolina farmers

Authors

  • Kimberly Bower Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6138-5433
  • Emily S. Bailey Department of Public Health, College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, Campbell University, 217 Main Street. Buies Creek, North Carolina, 27506, United States.
  • Victor Varela Section on Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6065-4175
  • Vera Luther Section on Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth Health, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9331-0918
  • Christopher Ohl Section on Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and Dartmouth Health, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9105-0756
  • Mark D. Sobsey Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 135 Dauer Drive, CB#7431, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8978-4996

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55284/cjac.v11i2.1993

Keywords:

Antimicrobial resistance, Enteric bacteria, Exposure assessment, Farmers, Quantiative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA).

Abstract

Purpose: Antibiotic use in high density animal agriculture, such as confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), is a potential source of human exposure to enteric bacteria and antibiotic resistant (AR) bacteria. This pilot study was intended to assess the impacts of CAFOs on human pathogens (Salmonella) and AR enteric bacteria (E. coli and Enterococcus) occurrence in people living near or working on these facilities. Design/Approach: People associated with eleven swine CAFOs were compared with to those of six row crop farms for occurrence and frequency of AR enteric bacteria. Fecal samples were collected from 87 people associated with both farm types, to assess AR enteric bacteria carriage. Findings: AR bacteria carriage was higher in people associated with CAFOs (RR= 1.42 [95% CI =1.17 1.72]). Conclusion: The AR bacteria in human stool samples could not be specifically attributed to the farms. Practical Implications: Further analysis on additional CAFOs and row crop farms and their people is recommended to increase statistical power and attempt to determine if there are or are not differences in the prevalence of AR bacteria found in the environment and in people on swine farms compared to row crop farms.

How to Cite

Bower, K. ., Bailey, E. S. ., Varela, V. ., Luther, V. ., Ohl, C. ., & Sobsey, M. D. . (2026). Occurrence and human exposure assessment of enteric bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance in North Carolina farmers. Canadian Journal of Agriculture and Crops, 11(2), 14–28. https://doi.org/10.55284/cjac.v11i2.1993

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2026): In Progress

Section

Articles