THE HAGUE, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- ESBL-enzymes, which are known for their ability to stop the effects of antibiotics, can directly pass from chicken to people, said a research published on Tuesday.

Veterinary researcher Dik Mevius of the Wageningen University released the finding in the magazine Resource.

The research group led by Mevius has isolated six ESBL-genes varieties and compared them to bacteria found on hospital patients, on super market poultry and in laying batteries. In 35 percent of all cases, they discovered a match of 100 percent.

Bacteria like Klebsiella on E. coli can produce the ESBL-enzymes. A healthy person will not feel any effect, but people with a lower immune system can get very sick. In areas like a hospital, the infection can easily spread.

"The main concern is that the enzyme resists the most used antibiotics, which makes the treatment of infected persons difficult," said Mevius.

According to Mevius, 94 percent of supermarket poultry carries the enzyme, but all enzymes will be killed during the heating process of cooking.