Food-borne bacteria showing increasing resistance
Types of bacteria called isolates continue to show resistance against these drugs, meaning treatment options for some of the most common food-borne infections are decreasing, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
In its latest EFSA-ECDC European Union Summary Report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food - which analyses data from 2013 - it reports that multi-drug resistant isolates of Salmonella continue to spread across Europe, which high resistance to the antimicrobial ciprofloxacin in Campylobacter isolates in both humans and animals has been reported in certain Member States.
Key findings in the report include the fact that resistance in Salmonella to commonly used antimicrobials was detected on a frequent basis in humans and animals (broilers and turkeys in particular), and derived meat products.
The incidence of multi-drug resistance was also high - 31.8% in humans, 56% in broilers, 73% in turkeys and 37.9% in fattening pigs.
Looking at Campylobacter, resistance was frequently detected in humans and animals, with broilers, pigs and cattle showing the highest rates. In food, resistance was also detected in broiler meat.
Mike Catchpole, chief scientist at European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said: "The high levels of resistance to fluoroquinolones observed in Campylobacter isolates from both humans and broilers are of concern considering that a large proportion of human Campylobacter infections come from handling, preparation and consumption of broiler meat. Such high resistance levels reduce the effective treatment options for severe human Campylobacter infections."
The report said that encouragingly co-resistance to critically important antimicrobials for both bacteria remained low.
