Report from the Task Force on Zoonoses Data Collection including guidance for harmonized monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in commensal Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. from food animals

Presently many Member States monitor antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic agents. Data available on antimicrobial resistance in commensal indicator organisms, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus spp., is currently not sufficiently uniform for the analyses of public health importance of the findings. The objective of these guidelines is to provide specifications for harmonized monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli and Enterococcus spp. from healthy food animals, including guidance on the monitoring of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) in E. coli. This should help Member States to provide antimicrobial resistance data that is comparable. These guidelines propose to test a common set of antimicrobials using common epidemiological cut-off values and a specified concentration range to determine the susceptibility of E. coli and Enterococcus spp.. Rather than providing a detailed prescriptive design of a monitoring system, the aim of these guidelines is to provide a framework to Member States when (re-)designing national monitoring programmes. The target number for each study population is 170 isolates each for E. coli, E. faecium and E. faecalis, respectively, although it is anticipated that this may not be feasible for each study population in all Member States. The results of the antimicrobial resistance monitoring are assessed and reported, in accordance with Directive 2003/99/EC, in the national reports on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and antimicrobial resistance.