Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

'High level' of resistant E. coli found in retail meat
meat counter at supermarket
"...insufficient resources are being put into the surveillance of antibiotic resistance in farm animals and retail meat"
Cambridge scientist calls for more surveillance

A new study has shown high levels of antibiotic resistant E. coli bacteria in meat samples from UK supermarkets. The Cambridge scientist who led the research says not enough resources are being put into the surveillance of antibiotic resistance in farm animals and meat.

Researchers from Cambridge University studied 189 pork and poultry samples of UK origin from the seven leading supermarkets - ASDA, Aldi, Coop, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

The study was commissioned by the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics and is said to be the first to analyse UK-origin retail meat for resistance to a range of antibiotics used to treat E. coli infections in humans.

Researchers found almost a quarter of chicken samples (24 per cent) tested positive for ESBL E. coli, which is resistant to critically important modern cephalosporin antibiotics, used in the treatment of life threatening blood poisoning in humans.

Over half of the E. coli found on pork and poultry samples were resistant to the antibiotic trimethoprim (51 per cent), which is used to treat more than 50 per cent of human lower urinary tract infections. In addition, 19 per cent of the E. coli were resistant to gentamicin, a very important human drug used for treating more serious upper urinary tract infections.

Lead author Dr Mark Holmes, from Cambridge University, commented: "I’m concerned that insufficient resources are being put into the surveillance of antibiotic resistance in farm animals and retail meat. We don’t know if these levels are rising or falling in the absence of an effective monitoring system.

"These results highlight the need for improvements in antibiotic stewardship in veterinary medicine. While some progress has been made we must not be complacent as it may take many years before we see significant reductions in the numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in farms."

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.