Multi-agency report highlights importance of reducing antibiotic use

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) report highlights the importance of reducing antibiotic use in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to human and animal health, causing an estimated 35,000 deaths annually in the European Union and the European Economic Area, and placing a significant burden on European healthcare systems, costing approximately €11.7 billion annually according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

On February 21, 2024, the ECDC, EMA, and EFSA released their fourth joint report on antibiotic use and bacterial antibiotic resistance in humans and food-producing animals in the European Union/European Economic Area for the years 2019–2021.

For the first time as part of this project, the three agencies analysed trends of antimicrobial consumption and AMR in Escherichia coli (E. coli) from both humans and food-producing animals. They also looked into how these trends were changing in humans and food-producing animals during 2014 – 2021.

"Using fewer antibiotics in livestock production pays off: in most countries that reduced antibiotic use, we observed a corresponding decrease in resistance levels. This means that national efforts work. It also highlights the EU’s commitment to the One Health approach, safeguarding both animal and global public health" says Bernhard Url, EFSA's executive Director.

Key findings of the published report:

• Countries that have reduced antibiotic use in both animals and humans have seen a decrease in antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic use in both animals and humans is associated with a higher risk of antibiotic resistance.
• Antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli in both animals and humans is decreasing as overall antibiotic use declines. Antibiotic use in food-producing animals decreased by 44% from 2014 to 2021.
• Antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to human and animal health. In addressing antibiotic resistance at national, EU, and global levels, the collaborative One Health approach has been crucial.

The One Health approach implemented by ECDC, EFSA, and EMA, along with the results presented in this report, call for:

• continued efforts to combat antibiotic resistance at national, EU, and global levels in both humans and food-producing animals;
• harmonization of antibiotic use and resistance surveillance in humans and animals;
• targeted research to better understand the spread of microbial antibiotic resistance.

EFSA news link: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/multi-agency-report-highlights-importance-reducing-antibiotic-use

Raport link: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/8589

More information:
Age Kärssin
Leading Specialist of Risk Assessment Department
tel 5648 9526
email age.karssin[at]labris.agri.ee