A recent report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) shows that resistance of Salmonella and Campylobacter to commonly used antimicrobials is still frequently observed in humans and animals.
"Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats we face globally, affecting people, animals and the environment. Working together remains important to tackle this complex problem. In our work, we embody the One Health approach, recognising the close links and interdependence between the health of humans, animals, plants and the wider environment," ECDC and EFSA chief scientists Mike Catchpole and Carlos Das Neves said in a joint statement.
There were encouraging trends in several countries, where an increasing number of bacteria from food-producing animals were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested. Moreover, the prevalence of Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC beta-lactamases (AmpC) producing E. Coli is decreasing.
A decrease in Salmonella resistance to ampicillin and tetracycline was also observed in humans in several countries during 2013-2021. This was particularly evident in S.Typhimurium, a type of Salmonella commonly associated with pigs and calves and often multi-resistant. Data also show decreasing trends in Campylobacter jejuni resistance to erythromycin in humans and broilers.
This type of antimicrobial agent is very important in the treatment of campylobacteriosis.
However, the report also shows an increasing trend in the resistance of S. Enteritidis and C.jejuni to ciprofloxacin in humans during the same period. S. Enteritidis and C. jeuni cause most cases of salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis infections in humans.
Similar trends were observed in C. jejuni from broilers between 2009 and 2020, where resistance to ciprofloxacin increased in several countries. The level of ciprofloxacin resistance in Campylobacter is now so high that this antimicrobial agent can no longer be recommended in the treatment of severe Campylobacter infections in humans.
Resistance of E. colito carbapenem remains rare in food-producing animals and humans. Since carbapenems are a class of antimicrobial agents used as a last resort, any findings showing resistance to them in zoonotic bacteria are of concern. Therefore, resistance to carbapenem should be monitored and investigated.
See scientific report: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/7867
