title: Monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms associated with aquatic animals.
abstract: The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Aquatic Animal Health Code recommends that programmes forthe monitoring and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms associated with aquatic animals be initiated by the appropriate authorities. This paper discusses the classes of bacteria to be studied in such programmes and the methods of sample collection to be employed. It also discusses the susceptibility test protocols appropriate for use in such programmes, the interpretive criteria that should be applied to the data they generate and the form in which the output of such programmes should be reported. The authors argue that it is essential that all monitoring and surveillance programmes should employ standardised and internationally harmonised susceptibility test methods to the greatest extent possible. With respect to bacteria capable of infecting aquatic animals, it is recommended that the set of consensus-based standards and guidelines published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute be adopted as the basis for international harmonisation of test protocols, as they are significantly more developed than any alternatives. It is further recommended that, for the purpose of evaluating antimicrobial resistance trends, such as emerging resistance, the data generated by these protocols should be interpreted by the application of epidemiological cut-off values. However, as yet, internationally agreed cut-off values have been produced for only one species. Thus, for many species, authorities will be obliged to set their own local and laboratory-specific cut-off values. It is recommended that laboratories use a statistical and standardised method of establishing such local cut-off values. Internationally harmonised standard test protocols and interpretive criteria have, to a large extent, been developed to monitor antimicrobial resistance in bacterial species capable of infecting humans. These methods can also be applied to microorganisms capable of infecting humans that are isolated from aquatic animals reared for human consumption or for sale as companion animals.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland. peter.smith@nuigalway.ie
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Pescanova S.A., Portal del Angel 3-5, 08002 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alday-Sanz
authors.affiliation: Center for Veterinary Medicine, United States Food and Drug Administration, 7500 Standish Place, HFV-131, Rockville, MD 28055, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matysczak
authors.affiliation: French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses), National Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products, 8 rue Claude Bourgelat, Parc d'activités de la Grande Marche, Javené BP 90203 -35302 Fougères, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.affiliation: Integrated Aquaculture International LLC, 1F No. 6, Block A, Bangunan Lim Seng Kok, Simpang 628, Jalan Tutong, Bandar Seri Begawan BF 1120, Negara Brunei Darussalam.
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lavilla-Pitogo
authors.affiliation: FDA Europe Office, United States Food and Drug Administration, United States Mission to the European Union, Rue Zinner 13, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prater
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017756:Aquaculture; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents