ARS | Publication request: NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE FOR ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN ZOONOTIC ENTERIC PATHOGENS

Submitted to: Veterinary Clinics of North America
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: December 28, 1997
Publication Date: March 1, 1998
Citation: Tollefson, L., Angulo, F.J., Cray, P.J. 1998. National surveillance for antibiotic resistance in zoonotic enteric pathogens. Veterinary Clinics of North America. 14(1):141-150.

Technical Abstract: Treatment of food-producing animals with antimicrobial agents that are important in human therapy may present a public health risk by the transfer or resistant zoonotic pathogens from animals to humans. Resistant bacteria can diminish the effectiveness of antibiotics and demand and use of more expensive or less safe alternatives. In 1996, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established the National Antimicrobial Monitoring System to prospectively monitor changes in antimicrobial susceptibilities of zoonotic pathogens from human and animal clinical specimens, healthy farm animals, and carcasses of food-producing animals at slaughter plants. This article describes the development, implementation, and objectives of the monitoring system and presents initial data generated by the system.