Research and analysis

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance pilot site selection and database extension: summary

Published 22 July 2022

Applies to England

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1. Chief Scientist’s Group report summary

This project developed selection criteria to identify suitable river catchments for piloting a surveillance programme for environmental antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

1.1 Background

AMR is a major concern for human, animal and plant populations, and the wider environment. The Government’s 5-year National Plan outline how the UK will address the AMR challenge. This includes specific reference to the importance of better understanding the potential spread, transmission and risk of AMR in the environment.

1.2 Approach and Findings

Selection criteria for the identification of suitable river catchments for environmental AMR surveillance pilot were developed in consultation with experts. These criteria included the presence of combined sewer overflows and other point and diffuse pollution sources (e.g. land use) along with practical constraints such as easy access to the identified river catchments. Through an iteration of selection steps, three out of 422 river catchments that reflect different circumstances have been identified: the river Crookhurst Beck in Cumbria, the river Trent in Nottinghamshire and the river Coquet in Northumberland.

As a result of this project, several new datasets were acquired for the Environment Agency’s AMR geodatabase and any gaps in these datasets were identified along with suggestions for improvements. These datasets were mapped to existing catchment locations allowing potential environmental AMR sources to be displayed at a catchment scale and suitable research sites chosen.

1.3 Conclusions

The project’s finding allows the Environment Agency to trial an environmental AMR surveillance pilot as part of the current cross-governmental PATH-SAFE programme and will be valuable for the development of strategies to establish any future environmental AMR surveillance systems.

1.4 Project details

This summary relates to information from the project SC210012/R, reported in detail in the following output:

  • Report: SC210012/R

  • Title: Antimicrobial resistance surveillance pilot site selection and database extension

  • Project manager: Dr Wiebke Schmidt, Chief Scientist’s Group

This project was commissioned by the Environment Agency’s Chief Scientist’s Group, which provides scientific knowledge, tools, and techniques to enable us to protect and manage the environment as effectively as possible. The project was funded by the PATH-SAFE programme which has been funded by HMT through the Shared Outcome Fund.

Enquiries: research@environment-agency.gov.uk

© Environment Agency

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