Grant: Team Grant: Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR)

The close contact of companion animals with humans provides excellent opportunities for interspecies transmission of resistant bacteria and their resistance genes in either direction. Infections in humans due to antimicrobial resistant bacteria originating from companion animals are becoming a concern. It is generally accepted that a high bacterial burden and high antimicrobial resistance gene copy numbers are present during an active infection. There is a gap of knowledge on the dynamics of transmission and selection of antimicrobial resistance at the companion animal-human interface. It is known that animals share antimicrobial resistant bacteria and genes with humans, but the extent to which this happens is unknown. Pet-Risk will evaluate the transfer of antimicrobial resistance between companion animals and household members during animal active infections and determine which type of infection (skin and soft tissue vs urinary tract infections) promotes a higher risk of transmission of antimicrobial resistance to humans. Furthermore, in a longitudinal study we will collect samples of infected animals and their household members at several time points, which will allow the assessment of critical control points at which interventions could substantially affect the spread of resistance. The causality and directionality of spread of resistance genes between humans and companion animals will be established in order to design and evaluate preventive and intervening measures for controlling resistance and diminishing the public health consequences of antimicrobial resistance.