Countries that have decreased their consumption of antibiotics in both animals and humans have seen a reduction in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a joint report published by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The fourth annual multiagency report, the publication centers on the integrated analysis of the consumption of antimicrobial agents and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria from humans and food-producing animals.
AMR is a serious threat to public and animal health. It is estimated that, every year, AMR causes the death of more than 35,000 people in the EU/European Economic Area (EEA) and puts a significant burden on European healthcare systems, with an approximate cost of €11.7 billion per year, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).