Plain language summary

PLS: Antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2023-2024

Background

• Antimicrobials, such as antibiotics, are substances used to kill microorganisms or to stop them from growing and multiplying.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to the ability of microorganisms to withstand antimicrobial treatments.
• The use of antimicrobials in humans and animals can lead to the emergence and spread of microorganisms that are resistant to them, rendering antimicrobial treatment ineffective and posing a serious risk to animal and public health.
• When AMR occurs in zoonotic bacteria (that is, bacteria present in animals and food causing human infections), it can also compromise the effectiveness of treatment of infectious diseases in humans.

What is the role of EFSA and ECDC in monitoring AMR?

• EFSA and ECDC provide independent scientific support and advice to risk managers on the risks to human and animal health related to the possible emergence, spread and transfer of AMR in the food chain and in animals.
• EFSA and ECDC cooperate closely with other relevant EU agencies such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
• Since 2011, EFSA and ECDC have compiled a joint report on AMR in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food.

How did EFSA and ECDC carry out this work?

• EFSA collected and analysed data on bacterial isolates from food-producing animals and food, while ECDC collected and analysed data on isolates from human cases. These data were used to provide an overview of the current AMR situation, including details of the evolution of AMR trends in Europe, and they provide robust evidence for decision-making.
• The data were provided by the 27 EU Member States (MSs), the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), two European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Iceland and Norway), Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia, and Switzerland.
• EFSA and ECDC jointly assessed the food-related data (reported to EFSA) and the public health data (reported to ECDC).
• Data for humans, broilers and fattening turkeys are from 2024, while those for fattening pigs and bovines under one year of age are from 2023.

What were the limitations of the data?

• While the antimicrobial resistance data presented in this report are representative of the situation across all MSs, additional information such as antimicrobial consumption is not considered here. For a recent analysis of associations between antimicrobial consumption and AMR in humans and food-producing animals, please refer to the ECDC-EFSA-EMA Fourth joint inter-agency report on integrated analysis of antimicrobial agent consumption and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from humans and food-producing animals in the EU/EEA, JIACRA IV - 2019-2021.

What are the main outcomes?

• The reported findings and trends are consistent with those from the previous years.
• Generally, resistance differed greatly between reporting countries, antimicrobials and bacterial species.
• A high proportion of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter isolates (particularly in C. coli) from humans and targeted animal populations were resistant to commonly used antimicrobials (ampicillin, tetracycline and sulfonamides) in human and veterinary medicine.
• Campylobacter from humans and food-producing animals continues to show very high resistance to ciprofloxacin, an antimicrobial important in treatment of Campylobacter and Salmonella infections in humans.
• The proportion of ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella increased over time in laying hens in certain MSs as well as in C. jejuni and a poultry-associated Salmonella type from human infections in more than half of the reporting countries.
• Combined resistance to critically important antimicrobials - defined as resistance to two different specific antimicrobials - was generally found to be low in Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli.
• Despite differences between countries, key outcome indicators show that several MSs have made significant progress in reducing AMR in food-producing animals, contributing to an overall improvement at the EU level.
• However, in the EU as a whole and in some countries, earlier improvements have slowed down. Resistance levels in E. coli from broiler chickens and turkeys have stabilised rather than continued to decline, showing that sustained and stronger AMR control efforts are needed.
• The detection of a number of carbapenemase-producing (CP) E. coli isolates in targeted food-producing animals and meat thereof by seven MSs in 2023 and 2024 requires a thorough follow-up. The number of reported CP-isolates is increasing. Human infections with CP Salmonella were detected in six and three MSs in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Key implications and recommendations

• Caution in the use of antimicrobials in all sectors, including agriculture, is absolutely necessary and strongly recommended.
• CP isolates need to be monitored closely as carbapenems are last-line antimicrobials for human therapy and not licensed for use in food-producing animals. Sources of CP isolates in livestock should be further investigated.
• Differences in the occurrence of AMR in MSs can relate to historical or current patterns of antimicrobial use; however, it may also highlight differences in husbandry and/or other practices or strategies that may assist in the prevention of AMR.
• Even if progress can be seen in many MSs, work to reduce selection for and spread of AMR must continue all over Europe.

Disclaimer

• This plain language summary (PLS) is a simplified communication of the European Union summary report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2023-2024.
• The purpose of the PLS is to enhance transparency and inform interested parties on EFSA and ECDC's work on the topic using simplified language to present a summary of the main findings.
• Anyone interested in the detailed results, analysis and interpretation should consult the full EFSA-ECDC report.

Reference

EFSA and ECDC (European Food Safety Authority and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control). (2026). The European Union summary report on antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and indicator bacteria from humans, animals and food in 2023-2024. EFSA Journal, 24(2), e9887. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9887

ISSN: 1831-4732
© European Food Safety Authority, 2026
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

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