Superbugs in animals
June 24, 2016
Amid universal cries for
measured behaviour around
the use of antibiotics with the
increasing risks of antimicrobial
resistance (AMR), the first
nationwide survey of antibiotic
resistance in disease-causing
bacteria in Australian animals
has found low rates of resistance
to critically important drugs,
comparing very favourably with
other countries around the world.
The findings will be reported at a
one-day symposium today marking
the official launch of the University
of Adelaide’s Australian Centre for
Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology
(ACARE).
The new Centre will, for the first
time, bring together surveillance
of both human and animal AMR
across Australia, as well as research
into the development of resistance
and new ways of controlling disease
in both humans and animals.
“This survey result is an A-grade
report for Australian agricultural
industries and animal health
practitioners,” says Professor
Darren Trott, project leader of the
Australia-wide survey and inaugural
Director of ACARE.
“It shows that concerns over
animal antimicrobials contributing
to the development of antibiotic
resistance in humans may be
somewhat overemphasised with
respect to the risk posed by
Australian meat and other livestock
products.
“However, there is no way we
should be resting on our laurels.
“Our new Centre will fill an
essential gap, attempting to keep us
ahead of this looming health issue.”
The new Centre will be a national
reference laboratory focusing on
AMR in gram-negative bacteria
such as escherichia coli (E.coli), he
explained.
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