ARS | Publication request: An update on antimicrobial resistance research activities in the ARS-BEAR Unit

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: April 10, 2007
Publication Date: April 10, 2007
Citation: Cray, P.J. 2007. An update on antimicrobial resistance research activities in the ARS-BEAR Unit. Food and Drug Administration Science Board Meeting. April 4, 2007. Rockville, MD.

Technical Abstract: In the 1990’s, Because of the public health concerns associated with the use of antimicrobials in livestock were increasing, and the potential utility of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for monitoring trends in antimicrobial resistance development was recognized. To meet this challenge, an antimicrobial resistance-monitoring program was initiated by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with other agencies, in particular as a post-marketing activity to help ensure the continued safety and efficacy of veterinary antimicrobials, especially fluoroquinolones. This program was developed as a post-marketing activity to help ensure the continued safety and efficacy of veterinary antimicrobials, especially fluoroquinolones. Thus, in 1996, FDA, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System - Enteric Bacteria (NARMS) to prospectively monitor changes in antimicrobial susceptibilities of zoonotic pathogens from human and animal diagnostic specimens, from healthy farm animals, and from raw product collected from federally inspected slaughter and processing plants. Non-typhoid Salmonella was selected as the sentinel organism. Additional organisms were added to the program, and NARMS currently monitors antimicrobial susceptibility in non-typhoid Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Enterococcus in humans and animals. The animal arm of NARMS resides at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) laboratory in Athens, Georgia, while the human arm resides at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, and the retail arm resides at the FDA-OR in Laurel, Maryland. Program information may be accessed at: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/narms_pg.html. Additional information on results from the animal isolate testing, including percent resistance by animal species for each year testing has been conducted, can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=6750.