Pennsylvania Surveillance for Antimicrobial Resistant-enteric Bacteria in Retail Food Abstract Antimicrobial resistance in human pathogens from contaminated food products including Salmonella from poultry meat and Acinetobacter from shrimps is of great concern. Pennsylvania is motivated to participate in National Antimicrobial Monitoring System (NARMS) retail food surveillance for two reasons. First, the program will enable us to contribute to the FDA's regulatory oversight for antibiotics, which directly benefits our residents. Second, it will enable us to strengthen integrated surveillance for enteric bacteria by using whole genome sequencing to compare bacteria from food samples with bacteria isolated from patients. This comparison facilitates outbreak investigations, trace-back of contaminated products, and prioritization of interventions such as facility inspections by regulators. Analyses of integrated genomics data from food and human sources will also enhance surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria. This project will result in better coordination and exchange of data and isolates with the FDA and expand high resolution detection of and response to emerging drug-resistant pathogens. improved timelines of the surveillance system. Additionally, our efforts will improve data quality and completeness of records and will support the use of NARMS findings to improve One Health antimicrobial stewardship in food production and healthcare settings.
Pennsylvania Surveillance for Antimicrobial Resistant-enteric Bacteria in Retail Food Project Narrative Conducting surveillance for enteric bacteria in retail food as part of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) provides critical data to the FDA necessary for regulatory oversight of antibiotic use in animals and humans. Comparison of bacterial isolates recovered from retail food (e.g., Salmonella) with strains causing human illnesses contributes to improvements in food safety, facilitates outbreak investigations, trace-back of contaminated products, and prioritization of interventions such as facility inspections by regulators.
