Antimicrobial resistance in food-producing animals to E. coli decreased in just over 25% of member states between 2014 and 2018, according to a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report.
This is a positive development as it means that in these countries, treatments with antimicrobials have a higher chance of success, the EFSA report states.
“In food-producing animals, the summary indicator of susceptibility to all antimicrobials has increased in E. coli in just under 25% [six] of member states over the period 2014-2018,” the report reads.
Positive findings
Marta Hugas, EFSA’s chief scientist, said the positive findings in food-producing animals are encouraging because they are a sign of improvement.
“However, we need to further investigate the reasons behind this change," she cautioned.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to global public and animal health – or One Health – that requires global action."
Resistance
The report also warns that salmonella and campylobacter are becoming increasingly resistant to ciprofloxacin, one of the antibiotics of choice for treating infections caused by these bacteria.
The latest data from humans, animals and food show that a large proportion of salmonella bacteria are multidrug-resistant (resistant to three or more antimicrobials).
In humans, resistance to ciprofloxacin is common, particularly in certain types of Salmonella, and resistance to high concentrations of ciprofloxacin increased overall from 1.7% (2016) to 4.6% (2018).
For campylobacter, 16 out of 19 countries reported very high or extremely high percentages of ciprofloxacin resistance.
Poultry
High proportions of resistance to ciprofloxacin are also reported in Salmonella and E. coli bacteria from poultry. Ciprofloxacin belongs to a class of antimicrobials categorised as critically important for use in humans.
If these antibodies lose their effectiveness, the impact on human health could be significant, the EFSA warned.
However, combined resistance – simultaneous resistance to two critically important antimicrobials – in Salmonella and in Campylobacter remains low.
Read more
One Health: some home truths about antibiotic resistance
One Health: getting the best results with vaccines
One Health: good biosecurity is vitally important
Antimicrobial resistance in food-producing animals to E. coli decreased in just over 25% of member states between 2014 and 2018, according to a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report.
This is a positive development as it means that in these countries, treatments with antimicrobials have a higher chance of success, the EFSA report states.
“In food-producing animals, the summary indicator of susceptibility to all antimicrobials has increased in E. coli in just under 25% [six] of member states over the period 2014-2018,” the report reads.
Positive findings
Marta Hugas, EFSA’s chief scientist, said the positive findings in food-producing animals are encouraging because they are a sign of improvement.
“However, we need to further investigate the reasons behind this change," she cautioned.
“Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat to global public and animal health – or One Health – that requires global action."
Resistance
The report also warns that salmonella and campylobacter are becoming increasingly resistant to ciprofloxacin, one of the antibiotics of choice for treating infections caused by these bacteria.
The latest data from humans, animals and food show that a large proportion of salmonella bacteria are multidrug-resistant (resistant to three or more antimicrobials).
In humans, resistance to ciprofloxacin is common, particularly in certain types of Salmonella, and resistance to high concentrations of ciprofloxacin increased overall from 1.7% (2016) to 4.6% (2018).
For campylobacter, 16 out of 19 countries reported very high or extremely high percentages of ciprofloxacin resistance.
Poultry
High proportions of resistance to ciprofloxacin are also reported in Salmonella and E. coli bacteria from poultry. Ciprofloxacin belongs to a class of antimicrobials categorised as critically important for use in humans.
If these antibodies lose their effectiveness, the impact on human health could be significant, the EFSA warned.
However, combined resistance – simultaneous resistance to two critically important antimicrobials – in Salmonella and in Campylobacter remains low.
Read more
One Health: some home truths about antibiotic resistance
One Health: getting the best results with vaccines
One Health: good biosecurity is vitally important
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