Strengthening Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Specimens in Kansas as a Part of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System

Kansas State University, Manhattan KS

Investigators

Abstract

Project Summary Strengthening Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Specimens in Kansas as a Part of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System As a key activity in combating bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) since 1996 monitors AMR in foodborne pathogens and indicator bacterial species in food-animals at the time of their processing; in red meat, poultry, and since 2020 also in seafood products sold to the public in retail; and in human foodborne infections. The program monitoring AMR in retail food is led and managed by the Food and Drug Administration – Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM). The food sample collection and microbiologic analysis are performed by the program sites in individual states. The site in Kansas was established in 2016, and the site-team has performed the NARMS Retail Food Surveillance programmatic activities of collecting and subjecting to microbiologic and whole genome sequencing analysis samples of food retailed in Kansas. The actual PIs have taken the leadership of the project and conducted NARMs in Kansas since October 2023. One of the major innovations in the program in recent years has been addition of whole genome sequencing and annotation of the bacterial isolates obtained from retail food samples. We incorporated bacterial isolate identification by MALDI-TOF in October 2023. This new project will enable the Kansas site-team to continue the prior programmatic activities in Kansas, microbiologic characterization and routine whole genome sequencing and annotation of bacterial isolates obtained from food samples collected in retail stores in Kansas as implemented and optimized over the past 5 years. The isolates, and their epidemiologic and genomic data will be delivered to the NARMS Retail Food Surveillance program on the required schedule. The program team will use these data and materials to enhance AMR surveillance and foodborne outbreak analysis and enable program and policy development at the national level. Epidemiologically relevant AMR information of target bacterial species isolated from food collected in retail stores in Kansas will be provided semiannually to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to advance public health in the state and inform program and policy development. Additionally, this information will be made available to county and community public health offices upon request. The data will be also used by our team for educational and outreach purposes throughout the state, to raise public awareness of AMR. Therefore, this project will strengthen AMR surveillance and analysis, support foodborne outbreak investigation, inform antimicrobial drug stewardship, and promote public health in Kansas and nation-wide.