Antibiotic resistance in bacteria of animal origin: methods in use to monitor resistance in EU countries

A study on the ongoing monitoring programmes in 13 European countries was m ade as part of a concerted action funded by the European Commission. Five m ain reference systems were used in the surveyed countries and three categor ies of bacteria were monitored, zoonotic agents, indicator bacteria and vet erinary pathogens. The five reference systems and an overview of the nation al monitoring programmes are described. Differences exist and there is a re al need for standardisation at the European level. This harmonisation could be set up both for microbiological methods and the epidemiological results derived from common methods. Disk diffusion methods are most widely used a nd many of the monitored species and control strains are similar in the act ion's participating countries. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. and Internati onal Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.