EU researchers seek to tackle antimicrobial resistance in humans

Researchers from a European Union (EU) funded project are seeking to help tackle the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in humans, according to the press release of the European Commission on Friday.

The EFFORT project, launched in December 2013, aims to shine new light on how AMR enters and spreads in the food chain, thus leading to exposure of humans to AMR.

Through farm-based studies and the use of state-of-the-art molecular technologies, the project would help policy makers, scientists and health professionals develop effective strategies to limit exposure to AMR.

There is an economic angle to this as well. Not only does AMR result in 25,000 deaths a year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); it costs over 1.5 billion euros (1.67 billion U.S. dollars) in healthcare expenses and productivity losses due to work absenteeism.

"Using antimicrobials invariably leads to the selection and spread of resistant bacteria," explained project manager Jaap Wagenaar from Utrecht University, the Netherlands. "AMR is an increasing problem."

EFFORT scientists from 10 European countries hoped to further understand the causes and effects of antimicrobial resistance in the food chain by obtaining first-hand data from farms.

"EFFORT partners in all participating countries have started full-scale sampling of farms, using a protocol developed within the project," said Wagenaar, "each farm visit takes about four hours, during which faecal droppings from animals (poultry, swine, veal calves, turkeys, fish, companion animals and wildlife) are collected and samples taken from the farm environment."

In order to investigate risk factors for antimicrobial resistance, EFFORT scientists are also gathering farm-specific data by interviewing farmers. Questions focus on farm management, animal antimicrobial usage, biosecurity, animal health and welfare.

In this way, scientists hope to find ways of reducing the use of antimicrobials in veterinary practice. Concrete results from these data would be extracted further down the line.

EFFORT is also carrying out an exposure assessment of humans from animal and environmental sources.

"This will create knowledge that can be used for evidence-based decision making, and for anticipating the impact of changing practices on animal health and human exposure," said Wagenaar.

"The ultimate aim of these measures is to decrease, or at least minimize the further development and spread of antimicrobial resistance," added Wagenaar.

The project is due for completion in November 2018.