Extending NARMS surveillance of antibiotic resistance in retail foods in California

Project Summary/Abstract Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an important issue for food safety and public health. TheNational Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Retail Food Surveillance insouthern California started in 2018. This project will continue the surveillance in the mostpopulated city of Los Angeles and expand the surveillance to rural areas in California. Theproject?s goal of improving food safety and protecting public health will be achieved byundertaking the following specific aims and activities. First, we will continue the NARMS retailfood surveillance in the city of Los Angeles and expand the surveillance to two rural areas(Amador and Calaveras) in California. Second, we will monitor trends of AMR in differentpathogens in retail meat and seafood specimens. We will collect retail meat (chicken, turkey,pork, beef) and seafood (shrimp, salmon, tilapia) specimens monthly from randomly selectedgrocery stores. We will test meat samples for Salmonella, Campylobacter (poultry only), E. coliand Enterococcus and seafood samples for Enterococcus, Aeromonas, Vibrio and other lactosepositive bacteria according to NARMS? Retail Food Protocols. Bacterial isolates will be sent toFDA monthly for antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) and whole genome sequencing (WGS)(WGS of meat isolates will be done by UC Davis). Third, we will conduct epidemiologicalstudies on prevalence of AMR in retail food. We will collect store information and metadata foreach retail meat and seafood specimen and determine key links between the prevalence ofbacteria and their AMR (e.g. single or multiple drug resistance) and species, origins, types, andforms of retail food, claims of antibiotics use, and seasons etc. Fourth, based on results of thisproject, we will develop lay publications, outreach materials, abstracts and posters, and peer-reviewed publications. We will disseminate findings to agriculture and aquaculture communities,veterinarians, and the public via newsletters, extension workshops, presentations in meetings andconferences, and peer-reviewed journals. Fifth, we will participate in NARMS conference callsand working groups. By accomplishing these specific aims and activities, the project will characterize the trends ofAMR in retail foods in the state of California. The project will enhance NARMS Retail FoodSurveillance and increase public awareness of AMR in retail foods. The project will alsostrengthen collaborations among federal and state agencies and academia on research, detection,surveillance, and investigation of foodborne outbreaks associated with AMR in retail food.1