“Antimicrobial Drug - Resistance of Zoonotic Foodborne Pathogens and Consequences on Public Health”

The emergence of antimicrobial drug - resistant bacteria and their dissemination in the community represents a real challenge to Public Health, both today and for the years ahead . Antimicrobial resistant zoonotic foodborne pathogens are a particular problem and there are wor ldwide numerous instances of severe foodborne illnesses caused by such bacteria . Some of these bacteria show increased virulence and therefore morbidity and mortality. In the majority of such infections the incriminated foods are of animal origin. Applicat ion of improved hygiene standards along the food production chain, “from farm to fork”, is of paramount importance to control the dissemination of all zoonotic foodborne pathogens, and thus the drug resistant ones. The establishment of thresholds in foods of certain foodborne pathogens to selected antimicrobials may also be a useful tool in combating antimicrobial resistance dissemination.