Salmonella treatments ineffective frequently

Antimicrobials used to treat salmonella in both humans and animals (primarily chickens and turkeys and their derived meat products) were frequently ineffective, due to resistance, according to a new study of data from 2013, by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.

The increasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs was especially high for turkeys, at 73%. Multi-drug resistance was also high in humans, at 31.8%; in broilers (56%); and fattening pigs (37.9%).

Antimicrobials used to treat Campylobacter in both humans and animals (primarily chickens, pigs and cattle) were frequently ineffective.

For the first time, EFSA and ECDC have used similar criteria to interpret antimicrobial resistance in humans, animals and foods.

“Findings in antimicrobial resistance in humans, animals and foods are now more comparable. This is a step forward in the fight against antimicrobial resistance”, said Marta Hugas, Acting Head of EFSA’s Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance Department.

The new study indicates multi-drug resistant forms of salmonella spreading across Europe, and high resistance to the antimicrobial ciprofloxacin in Campylobacter in both humans and animals.

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan condemned over-use of antibiotics in human and animal health, after the European Commission published its report on antimicrobial resistance.

“Treating healthy animals with antibiotics should be stopped and it is disappointing that the Commission in either of its texts on veterinary medicine and medicated feed has not proposed that this harmful practice should end.”

“Antibiotics for both humans and animals should only be used to treat illness and not preventatively.”

Antimicrobial resistance is blamed for 25,000 deaths and over €1.5 billion in healthcare expenses and productivity losses in Europe alone, every year.

Antimicrobial agents — such as antibiotics — have dramatically reduced deaths from infectious diseases since their introduction 70 years ago. However, through overuse and misuse, many micro-organisms have become resistant to them.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has offered a €1 million Horizon Prize for development of a rapid test to tell if a patient needs to be treated with antibiotics.

With such a test, doctors would quickly know if patients with upper respiratory tract infections such as the common cold can be treated safely without antibiotics. Antibiotics are often prescribed for these infections, but may be ineffective or unnecessary, if the infections are due to viruses.