CIPARS Releases 2004 Antimicrobial Resistance Data

August 9, 2006 — 

The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) recently released the findings of its 2004 surveillance program which examined antimicrobial resistance in abattoirs, retail meats, animal diagnostic samples and human diagnostic samples.

CIPARS is a national program dedicated to the collection, integration, analysis, and communication of trends in antimicrobial use and the development of resistance in selected bacterial organisms from humans, animals and animal-derived food sources across Canada.

In 2004, CIPARS operated two active surveillance components: 1) abattoir surveillance involves the collection and analysis of isolates of generic Escherichia coli and Salmonella from the intestinal contents of healthy animals at slaughter across Canada; and 2) retail surveillance involves the collection and analysis of isolates of generic E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Enterococcus from retail meat in Ontario and Québec. CIPARS also includes passive surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella from human and diseased animal specimens collected from laboratories across Canada. In 2006, CIPARS will initiate an on-farm surveillance component to evaluate on-farm antimicrobial use and resistance among enteric bacteria.

Results of the 2004 abattoir survey found that generic E. coli samples showed resistance to one or more antimicrobials in 80% of swine, 78% of chicken, and 31% of cattle isolates. In the case of Salmonella, 40% of isolates from chickens and 48% from swine were resistant to one or more antimicrobials.

Retail surveillance indicated that the percentage of E. coli isolates demonstrating resistance was lower overall than that seen among the abattoir samples. Resistance to ceftiofur in E. coli was highest among chicken than in any other commodity. In the case of Salmonella, 63% of all chicken isolates from Ontario and Québec were resistant to one or more antimicrobials. Ceftiofur resistance was detected in 45% and 40% of chicken isolates from Ontario and Québec, respectively. For Campylobacter isolates from chicken, 53% from Ontario and 81% from Québec were resistant to one or more antimicrobials. Two percent of Campylobacter isolates from Ontario and three percent from Québec were resistant to ciprofloxacin. For Enterococcus isolates from chicken, 98% from Ontario and 94% from Québec were resistant to one or more antimicrobials. No resistance was detected in the Enterococcus isolates to ciprofloxacin, linezolid, or vancomycin. However, 100% of all E. faecium isolates from Ontario (6 isolates) and Québec (5 isolates) were resistant to quinupristine-dalfopristine.

Salmonella surveillance on animals submitted for clinical diagnosis showed resistance to one or more antimicrobials in 83% of turkey, 77% of swine, 57% of cattle, and 40% of chicken isolates. Notably, ceftiofur resistance was observed in 21% of chicken, 20% of cattle, 17% of turkey, and 2% of swine isolates.

The entire report including the results of human surveillance testing is available on the CIPARS website.

Source:
CIPARS