Antimicrobial resistance prevalence in <i>Escherichia coli</i> from German fattening pigs differs at subnational levels

Surveillance is a key element of the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). With livestock representing a potential source for AMR transmission, its inclusion in surveillance programs is indispensable. Governmental surveillance of livestock in the European Union only depicts nationally aggregated AMR data. However, obtaining AMR data at subnational levels, although possibly laborious, is essential to gain insights into local situations. These may differ depending on the region surveyed, but their knowledge is essential for targeted risk assessment and interventions. Our study aimed at collecting such data while simultaneously testing a time-saving sampling approach. Hence, we sampled animal transporters carrying fattening pigs to an abattoir with boot swabs and determined AMR prevalence for <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains isolated thereof. The significant subnational differences in AMR prevalence detected indicate that regionalized surveillance data improve and hone the AMR knowledge base. Furthermore, our sampling approach was applicable with reasonable effort.