Project
Study of antibiotics
Goal
The objective of this project is to develop methods and monitoring strategies that will improve the supervision of the livestock farming sector's use of antibiotics. This development work will focus on the analysis of new matrices and the use of rapid on-site tests. The project will also seek answers to specific questions about the use of antibiotics and the enforcement of antibiotic use. In 2014, the study will focus on the enforcement of chloramphenicol legislation and antibiotics carry-over in the livestock farming sector. The project will also, in conclusion, extend to a desk study of the relationship between antibiotic use and the development of resistance.
Method
The development of methods and monitoring strategies will focus on the use of non-edible matrices including manure, urine and feathers. Methods will be developed and employed to analyse concentrations of antibiotics in these matrices, followed by a review of the potential role these matrices could play in monitoring the livestock farming sector's use of antibiotics.
A literature study will be carried out to identify rapid tests available on the market. These tests will then be examined to determine their suitability for on-site use. A microbiological screening method will be used to carry out analyses of feathers and/or swabs.
Research will be carried out to review the feasibility of making a distinction between synthetic and biosynthetic chloramphenicol using high-resolution mass spectrometry.
An insight into antibiotics carry-over in the livestock farming sector will be obtained by collecting and analysing a variety of poultry sector samples. Experiments will also be designed to map the dispersion of antibiotics in the environment.
A desk study will be carried out to obtain an insight into the relationship between antibiotic use and the development of resistance. This research will be carried out in cooperation with leading institutes in the field of resistance measurements.
Project results
The final results obtained from this project will be employed in the routine studies carried out by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority's Food and Product Safety Laboratory and/or the RIKILT Institute for Food Safety's performance of its Statutory Research Task analyses of samples, or will serve as input for the submission of recommendations to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs' policy-makers.