Cross-sectional studyindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-CHK-125 standard review
Salmonella in 18% of native chicken carcasses in Mansoura
Colistin-, cefepime-, and levofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from Egyptian chicken carcasses.
Overview
El-Saeed BA et al.. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2024 · PMID 38965586 · DOI 10.1186/s12941-024-00713-3
18% of native chicken carcasses carried Salmonella, often highly resistant to antibiotics.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
How common is Salmonella in retail chicken and which resistance patterns occur?
- How was the study done?
Cross-sectional microbiological survey of retail chicken (convenience sample)
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
150 freshly dressed native chicken carcasses from poultry shops, Mansoura, Jul-Nov 2022
- What was actually found?
Salmonella confirmed (invA PCR) in 18% (27/150) of carcasses. Of 129 isolates, 93.8% resistant to >=3 antibiotics; 82.2% resistant to colistin and to cefepime; 3.9% pan-drug-resistant.
- How large was the observed effect?
Salmonella confirmed (invA PCR) in 18% (27/150) of carcasses. Of 129 isolates, 93.8% resistant to >=3 antibiotics; 82.2% resistant to colistin and to cefepime; 3.9% pan-drug-resistant.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Salmonella on raw chicken in Egypt is common (roughly 1 in 6 to 1 in 3 carcasses) but far below 80-85%.
- What are the study's limitations?
Small convenience sample from one city; Not nationally representative
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts the specific number; supports that contamination is real and higher than in the EU.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Egyptian data; EU levels are lower (4.9%).
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Not representative of Egypt as a whole.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- El-Saeed BA et al.
- Journal
- Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob
- Year
- 2024
- Identifier
- PMID 38965586 DOI 10.1186/s12941-024-00713-3
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
How common is Salmonella in retail chicken and which resistance patterns occur?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Cross-sectional study – Cross-sectional microbiological survey of retail chicken (convenience sample)
- Population
Retail chicken carcasses/parts
- Country
Egypt
- Period
see n
- Sample size
150 freshly dressed native chicken carcasses from poultry shops, Mansoura, Jul-Nov 2022
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
as described in the abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Retail chicken
- Comparator
not applicable
- Endpoints
Salmonella prevalence, serotypes, antimicrobial resistance
- Statistical methods
as reported in the abstract
5. Actual results
- Results
Salmonella confirmed (invA PCR) in 18% (27/150) of carcasses. Of 129 isolates, 93.8% resistant to >=3 antibiotics; 82.2% resistant to colistin and to cefepime; 3.9% pan-drug-resistant.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
High prevalence of MDR, colistin- and cefepime-resistant Salmonella in native chicken is alarming.
6. Strengths
- Culture plus serotyping/PCR
- Egyptian retail setting
7. Weaknesses
- Small convenience sample from one city
- Not nationally representative
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Prevalence survey; selection unclear.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Prevalence with Wilson CI in stats/C-CHK-08_salmonella_prevalence.py.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Egyptian prevalence data to test the 80-85% figure.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
13. Overall methodological judgement
18% of native chicken carcasses carried Salmonella, often highly resistant to antibiotics.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | low |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | low |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
15. Linked fact checks
- About 80-85% of chickens are contaminated with Salmonella, even with the cleanest slaughter methods (the blood is contaminated). – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim
- Chicken carries Campylobacter and Salmonella, which cause human infections. – Studies supporting the claim
- All poultry (chicken, duck, goose, turkey, chicken liver/gizzards) is forbidden because these are domesticated, ground-feeding birds that do not fly, whereas pigeon and quail are allowed; all eggs including quail and pigeon eggs are forbidden. – Studies contradicting or limiting the claim