Bold reality check: antimicrobial resistance in common foodborne bacteria remains a pressing public health challenge across Europe. A new joint EFSA-ECDC report confirms that Salmonella and Campylobacter continue to exhibit high resistance levels to several frontline antimicrobials in both humans and food-producing animals. Yet there are glimmers of progress, showing that targeted actions can make a real difference when coordinated under a One Health framework.
Key findings at a glance
- Resistance to ciprofloxacin, an important drug for severe human infections, remains widespread in Campylobacter and Salmonella from both humans and animals. Alarmingly, human Salmonella infections have shown rising resistance in recent years, even while animal sources have consistently high resistance.
- In Europe, many Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates from humans and animals still resist commonly used antimicrobials such as ampicillin, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides.
- Carbapenemase-producing E. coli have been detected in food-producing animals and meat in several countries. Carbapenems are last-resort drugs for humans and are not approved for use in animals, making these detections particularly concerning and warranting closer investigation.
Encouraging signals amid the challenges
- Despite the overall high resistance, several EU-wide patterns show improvement: resistance to ampicillin and tetracyclines in human Salmonella infections has declined in many countries over the past decade, and similar positive trends appear in animal sources, notably lower tetracycline resistance in broilers and reduced ampicillin/tetracycline resistance in turkeys.
- For Campylobacter, erythromycin resistance (a key first-line human treatment) has fallen in multiple countries over the last ten years, in both humans and some animal reservoirs.
- Across Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli, combined resistance to multiple critically important antimicrobials remains generally low, which helps preserve several effective treatment options.
- Some early gains have leveled off in certain areas, particularly in E. coli from poultry, where resistance has stabilized rather than continuing to fall. Nevertheless, several countries have achieved reductions in animal sources, contributing to an overall EU-wide improvement.
Why sustained action matters
Antimicrobial resistance touches everyone. When bacteria become resistant, infections are harder to treat and outcomes worsen. Resistance patterns vary by country, organism, and antimicrobial, reflecting differences in how antimicrobials are used, farming practices, animal health measures, and infection prevention strategies.
A clear takeaway is the necessity of a One Health approach that links human health, animal health, and food systems. While progress is evident in some areas, continued responsible antimicrobial use across sectors—paired with strong infection prevention, animal health measures, and robust food safety practices—is essential to slow resistance’s rise and protect public health across Europe.
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