Research and analysis

Framework for understanding environmental antimicrobial resistance in England: summary

Published 30 October 2020

Applies to England

1. Chief Scientist’s Group research summary

This project identifies and describes existing datasets, helping to set out a framework for understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment. It will inform future hazard characterisation and risk assessment efforts, allowing the Environment Agency to develop strategies to establish an environmental AMR surveillance system.

1.1 Background

Modern medicine and crop production rely heavily on the use of antimicrobial substances to control infectious diseases in people, animals and crops. Overuse of these substances has resulted in organisms becoming resistant to them. The development of AMR has now been recognised as a major challenge. Whilst often seen as a solely clinical problem, the joint Defra and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) 20 year vision addressing antimicrobial resistance makes it clear that this problem demands a true “One Health” approach. This includes environmental transmission of AMR.

In some parts of the world environmental exposure is the main risk to acquire AMR. Parts of the Indian subcontinent may have already entered a post antibiotic state, and modern travel and transportation can spread micro-organisms very quickly to all parts of the globe. Yet our understanding of AMR in the environment lags well behind that for other sectors such as food and health.

1.2 Aims and Approach

The project conducted literature and database searches to identify and consolidate the relevant data. It also identified gaps in the data where future work would need to be focussed.

1.3 Findings

Seventy-three relevant datasets and reports were identified from a range of electronically-accessible data sources. The levels of access and documentation varied between sources.

In many areas the data available is likely to be adequate, or as good as is possible, at a national scale. Data will be limited in other areas, for example in veterinary use of antimicrobials and/or manure application. Further data collation or modelling may be required to overcome these data gaps.

Overall this research project revealed that existing data can be useful for informing strategies aimed at limiting AMR selection, dissemination and transmission. However, it is vital to extend the detection and quantification of AMR in the natural environment. This will be needed to inform strategies and to help establish an environmental AMR surveillance system.

1.4 Conclusions

The project’s findings highlight the need for the Environment Agency and other bodies to ensure that all environmental sources and pathways of AMR are considered in situations where they may contribute to antimicrobial resistance risks.

1.5 Publishing details

This summary relates to information from the following project:

Report:

SC190010

Title:

Framework for understanding environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in England

October 2020

Project manager:

Wiebke Schmidt, Research, Analysis and Evaluation

Project executive:

Alwyn Hart, Research, Analysis and Evaluation

Project collaborator:

Ruth Waite, Defra

Research Contractor:

Andrew Singer, Matthew Fry, Vasileios Antoniou, UK CEH, Wallingford, UK

This project was funded by Defra through the Environment Agency’s Research, Analysis and Evaluation group, which provides scientific knowledge, tools and techniques to enable us to protect and manage the environment as effectively as possible.

Enquiries: research@environment-agency.gov.uk

© Environment Agency