Antimicrobial resistance in the environment

The Scientific Committee recognizes there may be a need for a programme to monitor antimicrobial resistance in the environment, similar to the monitoring programmes NORM (disease-causing bacteria from humans) and NORM-VET (antimicrobial resistance in organisms from feed, animals and foodstuffs).

VKM has initiated the project.

Objectives

In the project, VKM will, among other things, assess the knowledge forming the basis for the current definition and description of environmental resistance. Based on clinical definitions of resistance, VKM will propose a definition of resistance in environmental bacteria.

VKM will also assess methods used to determine resistance and whether the methods are suitable for environmental tests.

Based on a complete assessment of the knowledge base, VKM shall identify the challenges and opportunities that lie in establishing in a monitoring programme for antimicrobial resistance in the environment, and what added value such a programme would provide.

Team

The project team consists of:

• Kaare M. Nielsen, VKM member of the Panel for Microbial Ecology, Scientific Leader
• Yngvild Wasteson, VKM member of the Panel for Microbial Ecology
• Pål Trosvik, VKM member of the Panel for Microbial Ecology
• Kyrre Kausrud, VKM member of the Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
• Martin Steinbakk Pdf, 57.9 kB, opens in new window., external expert, Østfold Hospital
• Astrid Louise Wester Pdf, 56.8 kB, opens in new window., external expert, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
• Gunnar Skov Simonsen Pdf, 57.8 kB, opens in new window., external expert, University of Tromsø
• Siamak Yazdankhah, VKM Secretariat, Project Manager

The project will be approved by the Panel for Microbial Ecology. The report is scheduled to be published in January 2022.