Joint EFSA-ECDC EU report: Bacteria resistant to key antimicrobials still routinely found in humans and animals

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is persistently high in both humans and animals for key pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter, according to a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The report highlights the need for a comprehensive One-Health approach, including robust surveillance systems, prudent antimicrobial use, and cross-sector collaboration. High resistance to ciprofloxacin, a crucial fluoroquinolone antimicrobial, is a growing concern, with resistance increasing in Salmonella Enteritidis and Campylobacter jejuni from humans in over half of the European countries that submitted data. However, resistance to other critical antimicrobials used in human medicine remains uncommon for Salmonella and Campylobacter. Despite some progress, antimicrobial resistance remains a major public health threat that requires coordinated action with a One-Health approach. Key measures include promoting responsible use of antimicrobials, improving infection prevention and control, investing in research for new treatments, and implementing strong national policies to combat resistance effectively.