Resapath French surveillance network for antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from diseased animals

The 2024 RESAPATH report, based on a record 121,872 antimicrobial susceptibility tests (+30% vs. 2023), provides a strengthened evidence base for monitoring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in clinical bacterial isolates from French livestock and companion animals. Across species, Escherichia coli remained the primary indicator organism, showing continued declines in multidrug resistance and stable or decreasing resistance to critically important antimicrobials such as third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, reflecting the sustained impact of national antibiotic-reduction policies. Resistance trends for other major pathogens—including Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Streptococcus spp.—were largely stable, although localized increases were noted, such as rising quinolone resistance in poultry isolates and a modest elevation of colistin non-susceptibility in bovine E. coli. Species-specific patterns highlight the influence of husbandry practices, antimicrobial exposure histories, and diagnostic submission biases. Overall, the surveillance data indicate that AMR levels in French animal health remain comparatively low and under control, but emerging micro-trends signal the need for continued stewardship efforts, targeted interventions, and high-resolution monitoring to prevent re-expansion of resistance reservoirs.