Resistance to antimicrobial agents used for animal therapy in pathogenic‐, zoonotic‐ and indicator bacteria isolated from different food animals in Denmark: a baseline study for the Danish Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Programme (DANMAP)

Abstract

Resistance to antimicrobial agents used for animal therapy in pathogenic-, zoonotic-and indicator bacteria isolated from different food animals in Denmark: a baseline study for the Danish Integrated Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Programme (DANMAP). APMIS 106: 745-770, 1998. This study describes the establishment and first results of a continuous surveillance system of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria isolated from pigs, cattle and broilers in Denmark. The three categories of bacteria tested were: 1) indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium), 2) zoonotic bacteria (Campylobacter coli/jejuni, Salmonella enterica, Yersinia enterocolitica), and 3) animal pathogens (E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), Staphylococcus hyicus, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae). A total of 3304 bacterial isolates collected from October 1995 through December 1996 were tested for susceptibility to all major classes of antimicrobial agents used for therapy in Denmark. Bacterial species intrinsically resistant to an antimicrobial were not tested towards that antimicrobial. Acquired resistance to all antimicrobials was found. The occurrence of resistance varied by animal origin and bacterial species. In general, resistance was observed more frequently among isolates from pigs than from cattle and broilers. The association between the occurrence of resistance and the consumption of the antimicrobial is discussed, as is the occurrence of resistance in other countries. The results of this study show the present level of resistance to antimicrobial agents among a number of bacterial species isolated from food animals in Denmark. Thus, the baseline for comparison with future prospective studies has been established, enabling the determination of trends over time.

Campylobacter

“…Emergence of resistance to these agents however, has since made their efficacy less certain. Resistance was reported to develop among patients after treatment with fluoroquinolones [14], and was also found to coincide with the introduction of these agents in veterinary medicine [1,2,38]. However, an increasing number of Campylobacter isolates resistant to these drugs are now being cultured from both clinical and food samples in several European countries, Canada and the United States.…”

“…to a panel of antimicrobial agents is necessary for a number of reasons. Firstly, there are increasing rates of resistance to the agents of choice used in the treatment of clinical enteric infection [1]. This suggests a need to supply alternative antimicrobials which remain therapeutically effective.…”

“…to these agents appear to make a conservative policy on the use of antibiotics in farm animals advisable [1,127]. Antibiotics of the macrolide-lincosamide group have been used in treating food animals worldwide for several decades.…”

“…It has been reported that in Denmark the consumption (per animal) of antibiotics such as macrolides and tetracyclines in agriculture was 2-4 times higher than consumption (per patient) in human medicine [1]. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance among zoonotic pathogens has led to the development of a continuous surveillance system of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria isolated from pigs, cattle and broilers in Denmark.…”

“…Emergence of antimicrobial resistance among zoonotic pathogens has led to the development of a continuous surveillance system of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria isolated from pigs, cattle and broilers in Denmark. The Danish Integrated Antimicrobial Monitoring Programme (DAN-MAP) has set out to establish a baseline for comparison with future prospective studies to enable the determination of trends over time [1]. Monitoring strategies such as this may have a positive impact on the effective treatment of human enteric Campylobacter infection.…”