Infections with foodborne bacteria becoming harder to treat
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), infections with foodborne bacteria are becoming harder to treat.
This is because a large proportion of Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria are building up resistance against ciprofloxin – a popular antibiotic used to treat these illnesses.
Their research revealed that in 2018, sporadic cases of Salmonella infection was resistance to carbapenems – a ‘last-line’ antimicrobial.
“Finding carbapenem resistance in foodborne bacteria in the EU is a concern,” said ECDC’s chief scientist Mike Catchpole. “The most effective way to prevent the spread of carbapenem-resistant strains is to continue screening and respond promptly to positive detections.
“ECDC is working with EU Member States and with EFSA in a One Health approach to enhance the early detection and monitoring, in an effort to fight the persisting threat of antimicrobial-resistant zoonotic infections.”
EFSA’s and ECDC’s full report can be read here.
Image: Getty/Ca-ssis
