EU launches new antimicrobial resistance action plan

Among the key findings revealed was that the overall high level of multi-drug resistance of Salmonella found in Europe could be traced mainly to two serovars, namely S. Typhimurium and monophasic S. Typhimurium. With salmonellosis the second most commonly reported foodborne disease in the EU, the high level of resistance in some of the causal bacteria is cause for concern. However, the study also found microbiological resistance to ciprofloxacin – a first-line treatment to invasive salmonellosis infections in humans - was low in Salmonella species in fattening pigs (4.7 percent), pig meat (4.3 percent), and beef (2.5 percent).  For Salmonella, levels of resistance ranged from moderate to extremely high to tetracyclines and sulfonamides in fattening pigs, and generally lower in calves. Salmonella from pigs were less resistant to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid than those isolated in calves. There was no evidence of resistance to carbapenems in Salmonella from either species.