The European Union Summary Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2019–2020

Abstract

Data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food are collected annually by the EU Member States (MSs), jointly analysed by the EFSA and the ECDC and reported in a yearly EU Summary Report. The annual monitoring of AMR in animals and food within the EU is targeted at selected animal species corresponding to the reporting year. The 2020 monitoring specifically focussed on poultry and their derived carcases/meat, while the monitoring performed in 2019 specifically focused on fattening pigs and calves under 1 year of age, as well as their derived carcases/meat. Monitoring and reporting of AMR in 2019–2020 included data regarding Salmonella, Campylobacter and indicator E. coli isolates, as well as data obtained from the specific monitoring of presumptive ESBL‐/AmpC‐/carbapenemase‐producing E. coli isolates. Additionally, some MSs reported voluntary data on the occurrence of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in animals and food, with some countries also providing data on antimicrobial susceptibility. This report provides an overview of the main findings of the 2019–2020 harmonised AMR monitoring in the main food‐producing animal populations monitored, in carcase/meat samples and in humans. Where available, monitoring data obtained from pigs, calves, broilers, laying hens and turkeys, as well as from carcase/meat samples and humans were combined and compared at the EU level, with particular emphasis on multidrug resistance, complete susceptibility and combined resistance patterns to critically important antimicrobials, as well as Salmonella and E. coli isolates possessing ESBL‐/AmpC‐/carbapenemase phenotypes. The key outcome indicators for AMR in food‐producing animals, such as complete susceptibility to the harmonised panel of antimicrobials in E. coli and the prevalence of ESBL‐/AmpC‐producing E. coli have been specifically analysed over the period 2014–2020.

Whole-Genome Investigation of Salmonella Dublin Considering Mountain Pastures as Reservoirs in Southern Bavaria, Germany

“…Furthermore, S. Dublin is one of the serotypes showing the highest multidrug resistance [ 19 ]. Data from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) indicate ongoing and overall high levels of antimicrobial resistance regarding Salmonella in the European Union [ 47 ]. However, the results of the present study revealed no significant antimicrobial resistance of the serovar Dublin via either in vitro or in silico approaches ( Figure 1 , Table S1 ).…”

Antibiotic Resistance in Campylobacter spp. Isolated from Broiler Chicken Meat and Human Patients in Estonia

“…Campylobacter is small spiral Gram-negative bacterial pathogen and the main agent of campylobacteriosis, which is the most common zoonotic disease in the EU transmitted to humans directly from animals, or through the foodborne route [ 1 , 2 ]. Recent source attribution analysis has revealed the prevalent role of broiler chickens as the cause of human Campylobacter infections in the Baltic countries [ 3 ].…”

“…The increasing resistance of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. to antibiotics could lead to detrimental effects on public health [ 2 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]; therefore, the World Health Organization has classified many of these antimicrobials as critically important for human medicine [ 20 ].…”

Correlation between Multilocus Sequence Typing and Antibiotic Resistance, Virulence Potential of Campylobacter jejuni Isolates from Poultry Meat

“…Antibiotic is generally considered for the treatment of C. jejuni . However, with the spread of these antibiotics implemented in clinical and animal husbandry, C. jejuni isolates have obtained apparent resistance and gradually enhanced [ 5 , 6 ]. Moreover, symptoms caused by C. jejuni are also related to its virulence.…”