The
rapid increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in microorganisms now
challenges both public health and sustainable food production. A recent report
from UK Government estimates that if AMR is left to develop at present rates, it
will kill up to 10 million people by 2050. It is likely that some countries in
the future will invoke World Trade Organization rules to block food import from
countries that do not exhibit sufficient AMR control. If the world wants to
deal efficiently with the AMR issue, the basis has to be an understanding of
the present situation, especially with respect to the occurrence of AMR in
microorganisms. NAFTEC works to provide science-based data as well as potential
surveillance systems documenting AMR in animals, food and humans as well
as linking these three domains. This AMR work is done using traditional
(phenotypic) methods, such as disk diffusion and broth dilution, as well as
novel (genotypic) methods based on next generation sequencing (NGS). NAFTEC is
also involved in developing an interesting opportunity to investigate the level
of AMR in bacteria from around the globe using NGS.
Last updated by Kelyn Seow on 20 April 2018