AMR: ECDC and EFSA publish joint annual report on antimicrobial resistance

Data on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria referring to 2019–2020, submitted by 27 EU Member States (MSs), were jointly analysed by the EFSA and the ECDC. Resistance in zoonotic Salmonella and Campylobacter from humans, animals and food, as well as resistance in indicator Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from animals and food were addressed. ‘Microbiological’ resistance was assessed using epidemiological cutoff (ECOFF) values; for some countries, qualitative data on human isolates were interpreted in a way which corresponds closely to the ECOFF-defined ‘microbiological’ resistance.

Legal basis

Monitoring of AMR in bacteria from food-producing animals and derived meat

• Regulation (EC) 178/20021 Article 33 establishes that EFSA is responsible for examining data on AMR collected from the Member States (MSs) in accordance with Directive 2003/99/EC and for preparing the EU Summary Report from the results

• Directive 2003/99/EC2 on the monitoring of zoonoses and zoonotic agents lays down the provisions for monitoring of AMR in zoonotic and indicator bacteria in food-producing animals and derived meat. The Directive obliges EU MSs to collect relevant and, where applicable, comparable data on zoonoses, zoonotic agents, AMR and food-borne outbreaks.

• Implementing Decision 2013/652/EU3 on the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria was adopted as part of the 2011–2016 European Commission action plan. It applies from 2014 to 2020 and sets up priorities for the monitoring of AMR from a public health perspective, drafts a list of combinations of bacterial species, foodproducing animal populations and foodstuffs and lays down detailed requirements on the harmonised monitoring and reporting of AMR in food-producing animals and food.

Monitoring of AMR in bacteria from humans

• Decision 2018/945/EU4 on the communicable diseases and related special health issues to be covered by epidemiological surveillance as well as relevant case definitions came into force in July 2018, repealing Decision 2012/506/EU5 . The new decision stipulates mandatory testing and reporting of a representative subset of isolates using methods and criteria specified in the EU protocol for harmonised monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in human Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates (ECDC, 2016).

• The data collection on human diseases from MSs is conducted in accordance with Decision 1082/2013/EU6 on serious cross-border threats to health.

Read the full report here.