Surveillance and Genomic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Puerto Rico's Retail Food

ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance, a threat to public health worldwide, is exacerbated by misuse and overuse of antibiotics for therapeutic purposes in human and veterinary medicine. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) is a multi-agency federal program that collaborates with public health and academic institutions in efforts to monitor antimicrobial resistance in bacteria from humans, retail meats, and food-producing animals. Our aim is to collaborate with the Food and Drug Administration to enhance the NARMS site in Puerto Rico. Surveillance and Genomic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance in Puerto Rico's Retail Food Program’s primary goal is to enhance, strengthen and sustain antibiotic resistance surveillance in retail food specimens as part of NARMS. The strategies of this project address four (4) specific aims: (i) Enhance Routine AMR Surveillance in Retail Meat and Seafood; (ii) Strengthen Laboratory and Bioinformatics Capacity for AMR Characterization; (iii) Integrate Surveillance with Response and Workforce Development; (iv) Expand AMR Outreach, Communication, and Stewardship. Collaborative efforts with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Penn State University will support genomic training and data interpretation. Findings will provide critical data to the FDA for regulatory oversight and inform evidence-based food safety practices across Puerto Rico.