National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System using Retail Meat for Louisiana

NARMS Cooperative Agreement Program to Enhance and Strengthen Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Specimens Agency Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-25-014 Louisiana 9/1/2025-8/31/2026 Abstract This project supports the successful collection, processing, and testing of 23 retail meat and seafood samples per month. Three staff from ID Epi and the Lab will ensure the timely and accurate identification, collection, processing and submission of all samples, in alignment with FDA and NARMS timelines. Enhanced antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data specific to Louisiana will be analyzed to identify trends, detect emerging threats, and inform agency decision-making and public communication. These data will also support the development of evidence-based policies aimed at AMR mitigation and prevention, reinforcing the critical role of the state health department in protecting and improving the health of the public. Planned enhancements include incorporating additional target organisms and optimizing laboratory methods, including the expansion of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to encompass these newly included organisms. These improvements will produce higher-resolution data and strengthen the capacity to detect related cases or outbreaks retrospectively, in real time, and prospectively. This work will strengthen coordination with the FDA and other partners during outbreak investigations and ensure that Louisiana contributes robust, actionable surveillance data to the national NARMS program. Collectively, these activities will support efforts to shape national policy on antimicrobial use and resistance.