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Levels of antibiotic resistance vary widely, says study
14 July 2008

Two cows in Northern France (pictured). The study finds a large number of resistant Escherichia coli isolates in France, Spain, Italy and Belgium
Photo: David Hart
A survey of antimicrobial resistance in European cattle has found significant variation between the thirteen participating countries. The study revealed differences in the prevalence of resistant bacteria among countries and among the different antimicrobial agents tested.

The results show that treatment of infected animals has to be based on local knowledge and observed local resistance patterns, say the authors.

Bacteria isolated from cattle in Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK tended to show little resistance. By contrast, many cultures from Belgium, France, Latvia and Spain were resistant to most antimicrobials tested.

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"The differences in resistance may reflect the differences in antimicrobial use between countries and veterinarians," said Dr Rene Hendriksen of the Technical University of Denmark who led the study. "Antimicrobial resistance is an increasingly important problem among several bacterial species. The problem has become so critical in some of these species that there are few treatment options left."

The level of resistance found in Staphylococcus aureus is of particular concern, say the researchers. The level of oxacillin resistance in France and Spain and the resistance to third-generation cephalosporins indicate the presence of methicillin-resistant S aureus in those countries.

The study also found a large number of resistant Escherichia coli isolates in France, Spain, Italy and Belgium.

"The seemingly emerging occurrence of resistance to important antimicrobial agents in Belgium, France, Italy and Spain is worrying," said Dr Hendriksen. “The frequency of resistance to most antimicrobial agents is potentially making treatment difficult."

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