Association between antimicrobial usage in livestock and antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from human urinary tract infections in the Netherlands, 2009–2020

The study aimed to assess the association between veterinary antimicrobial usage (AMU) in livestock and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Escherichia coli isolates from human urinary tract infections (UTIs). Data from Dutch national surveillance programmes between 2009 and 2020 was used to assess associations between AMU in four major livestock sectors and AMR in humans. Statistical significance was reached for 16/31 of the tested associations, with 11 positive and 5 negative. All associations between human AMU and AMR in E. coli isolates from UTIs were positive and statistically significant. Weak but significant positive correlations were also observed between livestock AMR and human AMR. The study concluded that the potential zoonotic spread of AMR in E. coli causing human UTIs from livestock sources is limited.