Summary Report in relation to National Antimicrobial
Resistance Surveillance in relation to zoonotic pathogens
Introduction:
The challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to remain an
important issue for both the human and animal sector. In conjunction with
disease prevention strategies and policies for prudent use of antimicrobials,
surveillance both of antimicrobial resistance development serves as a useful
tool in an AMR risk management strategy. Since 2007 there has been a
harmonised approach for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in poultry and
pigs in European Union Member States on foot of Directive 2007/407/EC. Prior
to this, Directive 2003/99/EC was the legal basis for the requirement of
Antimicrobial Resistance monitoring in zoonotic agents and indicator
organisms isolated from animals and food. This AMR monitoring supplements
the monitoring of human isolates. Since 2013 Commission Implementing
Decision on the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in
zoonotic and commensal bacteria (2013/652/EU) outlines the current and
future legislative requirements.
Methodology:
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine co-ordinates the National
AMR surveillance in line with EU legislative requirements. The Central
Veterinary Research Laboratory, as the National Reference Laboratory carries
out the analysis of samples submitted for isolate testing. The results of the
isolate testing are sent to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland who collate the
data which is finally sent to the European Food Safety Authority. The European
Food Safety Authority reviews the data in tandem with the data from other
Member States and publishes an annual report, in co-operation with the
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, in relation to monitoring
AMR resistance development and spread.
From 2014 the monitoring alternated between species, and in 2014 was only
required to be carried out in poultry. The surveillance carried out in 2015 was
in relation to the pigs, and AMR surveillance was also carried out for the first
year at retail level in beef and pig meat.
Results and discussion:
Surveillance in relation to levels of antibiotic resistance in the following specific
zoonotic pathogenic bacteria, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and E. coli
has been ongoing since 2010 in cattle, pigs and poultry.
Table 1: CVRL data for the number of Isolates tested per year 2010-2014 Genus (slide
preparation courtesy of Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 2015)
Reporting Year
Campylobacter
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
127
146
78
Total:
351
Escherichia
coli, nonpathogenic
Salmonella
Grand Total
168
246
493
358
199
45
373
639
358
199
291
168
1341
1860
Figure 1: CVRL data regarding proportion of Isolates by Genus (slide courtesy of Food
Safety Authority of Ireland, 2015)
Table 1 and Figure 1 show the number of Isolates tested over the last 5 years.
This data shows 78% of the isolates tested for antimicrobial resistance are
from the genus Salmonella
Table 2: Number of Antimicrobials tested by CVRL per year 2010-2014
Antimicrobial Substance Group
Aminoglycosides
Amphenicols
Carbapenems
Cephalosporins
Fluoroquinolones
Glycylcyclines
Macrolides
Penicillins
Polymyxins
Quinolones
Sulfonamides
Tetracyclines
Trimethoprim
Cephalosporins + ß lactamase
inhibitors
Total:
2010
1035
648
2011
1771
1132
2012
1074
716
2013
398
199
522
387
986
639
716
358
199
199
126
261
146
493
358
199
387
261
387
261
639
493
639
493
358
358
358
358
199
199
199
199
4275
7431
4654
1990
2014
411
213
240
461
312
213
312
221
213
312
213
312
213
Total
4689
2908
240
2884
1895
213
584
1532
213
1895
1524
1895
1524
16
16
3662
22012
Table 2 above shows the number of results that have been supplied over the
last five years to the European Food Safety Authority in relation to the
different antibiotic families. In 2014 AMR surveillance for antibiotic resistance
in relation to 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, and surveillance for
Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase producing bacteria was carried out for the
first time.
Figure 2: AMR Surveillance findings in cattle, pigs and poultry from 2010-2013 (Slide
prepared courtesy of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 2015)
AMR Results 2010-2014
100%
90%
% of total Results
80%
82%
85%
87%
81%
81%
70%
60%
50%
% Susceptible
40%
% Resistant
30%
20%
18%
10%
15%
13%
19%
19%
0%
2010
2011
2012
Year
2013
2014
Figure 2 shows the percentage of bacterial isolates that have been shown to be
resistant or susceptible to antibiotics. The results over the 5 years from 20102014 show resistance levels staying below 20% in the isolates tested. The 2014
results are in line with 2013, with 2012 showing the lowest percentage of
resistance detection, however in that year only Salmonella isolates were tested
and submitted.
Figure 3: Overview of CVRL data on source of Salmonella isolates tested for resistance to
Amninoglycosides, Cephalosporins and Fluoroquinolones (Slide prepared courtesy of the
Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 2015)
In relation to Salmonella species testing, the breakdown of the species tested
can be seen in figure 3, with the majority of testing being carried out in the pig
population.
Certain classes of antibiotics have been classified by both the World Health
Organisation and the world Organisation for Animal health as Critically
Important Antibiotics (CIAs) for both human and animal health. Both
Flouroquinolone, 3rd and 4th Generation Cephalosporin and Aminoglycoside
families of antibiotics have been included in this category.
Figure 4: Salmonella isolates tested for resistance to Fluoroquinolones in poultry (slide
prepared courtesy of Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 2015)
Figure 4 shows that AMR trends in Salmonella species in poultry samples
collected show a low level of resistance with none being detected in 2014.
Figure 5: CVRL data with regard to Salmonella isolates from poultry tested for resistance
to Cephalosporins (slide prepared courtesy of Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 2015)
Susceptible
0%
Resistant
Susceptible
1%
Resistant
Resistant
Susceptible
1%
Susceptible
1%
1%
100%
99%
99%
99%
Resistant
99%
Susceptible
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Resistant
% of total results
Salmonella Isolates - Cephalosporins Only
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins
Cephalosporins
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Resistance of Salmonella bacteria sampled from poultry to 3rd and 4th
generation Cephalosporins was very low at 1%, to non-existent in 2014.
However, in relation to Aminoglycoside resistance levels, again with regard to
poultry, levels detected were higher when compared to other CIAs apart from
2014 when no resistance was found to be present (figure 6).
Figure 6: CVRL data with regard to Salmonella isolates from poultry tested for resistance
to Amninoglycosides (slide prepared courtesy of Food Safety Authority of Ireland, 2015)
89%
0%
Resistant
Susceptible
Resistant
Susceptible
Susceptible
19%
11%
Susceptible
13%
12%
100%
81%
Susceptible
87%
Resistant
88%
Resistant
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Resistant
% of total results
Salmonella Isolates - Aminoglycosides Only
Aminoglycosides
Aminoglycosides
Aminoglycosides
Aminoglycosides
Aminoglycosides
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
In relation to Campylobacter isolates from poultry samples there were
significant levels of resistance detected in relation to Flouroquinolones (figure
7), although a marked decrease in 2014 when compared to previous data.
Figure 7: CVRL data with regard to Campylobacter isolates from poultry tested for
resistance to Flouroquinolones and Aminoglycosides
98%
40%
27%
Susceptible
Resistant
Susceptible
Resistant
Susceptible
Resistant
Resistant
3%
2%
Susceptible
5%
73%
60%
55%
Resistant
45%
97%
Susceptible
95%
Susceptible
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Resistant
% of total results
Campylobacter Isolates
AminoglycosidesFluoroquinolonesAminoglycosidesFluoroquinolonesAminoglycosidesFluoroquinolones
2010
2011
2014
Conclusions:
Surveillance of Antimicrobial resistance in different species does not show a
significant increase over the past five years with levels staying below 20%. The
data collected in relation to the poultry sector highlights that in 2014, there
was no resistance found in Salmonella isolates to certain classes of antibiotics
classified as critically important for human and animal health, specifically
flouroquinolones, 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins and aminoglycosides.
The data from 2010-2014 showed a continual annual decrease in levels of
resistance to Flouroquinolones and aminoglycosides in Campylobacter isolates
from poultry.
The data shows a continued improvement in antimicrobial resistance trends in
poultry, however continued monitoring, in conjunction with a focus on disease
prevention, and prudent use of antibiotics where necessary, is essential in all
animal production sectors to address the development and spread of AMR.