Stubborn Resistance Challenges Treatment Options (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Officials from the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control released a joint report detailing antimicrobial resistance trends in zoonotic bacteria for 2023-2024.[1][2]
Stubborn Resistance Challenges Treatment Options
Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates from humans and food-producing animals displayed high resistance to several common antimicrobials throughout the reporting period. Resistance to ampicillin, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides proved widespread in both bacteria types sampled from various sources.[3] Salmonella from laying hens stood out with notably lower resistance levels compared to other animal sources.
Ciprofloxacin resistance emerged as a particular worry, affecting a high proportion of Campylobacter and Salmonella from both human cases and animals. Authorities now advise against using ciprofloxacin to treat human Campylobacter infections due to this pervasive resistance across the region.[1] The antibiotic’s restricted use in animals aims to preserve its value for human medicine.
Rising Resistance Signals Urgent Action
Trend analyses revealed increases in ciprofloxacin resistance among Salmonella from laying hens in certain member states. Human infections linked to poultry-associated Salmonella serovars and Campylobacter jejuni showed similar upticks, with the latter observed in more than half of reporting countries.[3] Combined resistance to multiple critically important antimicrobials stayed relatively uncommon overall.
Higher multidrug resistance appeared in specific Salmonella serovars and Campylobacter coli from humans and animals within some nations. These patterns underscored the need for vigilant monitoring, as resistance levels varied substantially between countries.
Encouraging Declines Offer Hope
Over the past decade, significant reductions occurred in Salmonella resistance to ampicillin among human cases in 19 countries and to tetracyclines in 14 countries. At the EU level, tetracyclines resistance fell in broilers, while both ampicillin and tetracyclines resistance decreased in turkeys.[2]
Campylobacter resistance to erythromycin, a primary treatment for human infections, declined in several countries for both humans and select food-producing animals. Improvements in indicator Escherichia coli also contributed to broader gains, though some positive trends in poultry have recently stabilized.[1]
“Antimicrobial resistance in common foodborne bacteria such as Salmonella and Campylobacter highlights the close links between human, animal and food systems,” said Piotr Kramarz, Chief Scientist at ECDC. “Protecting the effectiveness of antimicrobials requires coordinated action through a strong One Health approach – because antimicrobial resistance affects us all.”[1]
Imports and Emerging Threats Demand Attention
Testing at border control posts uncovered very high resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in Salmonella from imported broiler and turkey meat, alongside moderate levels in indicator E. coli. Carbapenemase-producing Salmonella evaded detection in animals but surfaced in six human cases in 2023 and five in 2024, mostly carrying blaOXA-48 genes along with others like blaNDM-1.[3]
Carbapenemase-producing E. coli, harboring diverse genes, appeared in broilers, turkeys, pigs, calves, and pig meat across eight member states. These last-resort antibiotic threats, unauthorized for animal use, highlighted risks from international supply chains.
- High ciprofloxacin resistance limits Campylobacter treatment options.
- Progress in Salmonella resistance varies by country and animal type.
- Stabilizing E. coli trends call for renewed efforts.
- Imported meat shows elevated resistance to key drugs.
- One Health coordination remains essential for control.
Key Takeaways
- Resistance to ampicillin, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides stays high in Salmonella and Campylobacter.
- Declines over 10 years provide optimism, but some trends plateau.
- Emerging carbapenemase producers in animals and humans require immediate follow-up.
The report emphasizes that sustained One Health strategies can curb AMR, but complacency risks reversing gains. Vigilance in food production, imports, and treatment practices will prove crucial moving forward. What steps should Europe prioritize next? Share your thoughts in the comments.
