Surveillance of AMR in <i>Escherichia coli</i> on Raw Fresh Beef and Pork Meat in Retail Sale in Northern Ireland in 2023

• Mandatory anonymised reporting (without product details) under EU regulation 2020/1729 (https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feur-lex.europa.eu%2Flegal-content%2FEN%2FTXT%2F%3Furi%3Duriserv%3AOJ.L_.2020.387.01.0008.01.ENG=05%7C02%7C%7C728e0578d2584889e4b308dcac7237a7%7C8a1c50f901b74c8aa6fa90eb906f18e9%7C0%7C0%7C638574853788123226%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C=KmvOFBnQh8Nlkib8E6S2hsMSMyJrJeQA%2FosdNhJvZtM%3D=0) for the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic and commensal bacteria has been submitted to the EU for antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from fresh pork and beef purchased for retail sale in NI from September to December 2023. • In this survey 96 pork and 98 beef fresh retail meat samples were tested for AMR E. coli according to EU guidelines. • No isolates were resistant to last line antibiotics, including colistin and carbapenems. • The prevalence of AMR E. coli was low (3%) from 194 raw fresh beef and pork samples. • The risk of acquiring AMR related infections through the handling and consumption of retail contaminated meats is very low, provided that good hygiene and cooking practices are followed when handling raw meats.