Strengthening Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Retail Food Commodities in Kentucky as a Part of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)

SUMMARY: Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections represent a growing public health concern, with foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus playing a significant role. Currently, there is limited data on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from raw meat sold in retail stores across the state of Kentucky. To strengthen the antibiotic resistance surveillance data generated through the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), we propose a collaborative effort with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to monitor antimicrobial resistance in bacteria isolated from retail meat in several regions of the Commonwealth. This objective will be achieved through three specific aims: First, retail meat samples, including chicken breast, ground turkey, ground beef, pork, and seafood will be collected twice monthly from grocery stores located in six geographically and socioeconomically distinct regions across Kentucky. These regions will include urban areas such as Lexington, Louisville, and Northern Kentucky, as well as underserved rural and Appalachian communities, including Hazard, Morehead, and Paducah. Samples will be transported under refrigeration to the laboratory, where bacterial isolation of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Vibrio, and Aeromonas will be conducted in accordance with the NARMS Surveillance Laboratory Protocols. Confirmed isolates will be shipped monthly to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) for further analysis. Second, we will develop a statewide database on antibiotic resistance in retail meat products using antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). This database will catalog the prevalence of target pathogens by commodity type, serotypes of Salmonella, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and detailed sample metadata, including retail location, zip code, meat brand, processor, packaging type, and production claims (e.g., organic, raised without antibiotics). This resource will not only enhance Kentucky’s contribution to NARMS but will also enable high-dimensional analyses linking retail surveillance data with upstream sources such as on- farm AMR monitoring and environmental exposures. Third, this initiative will foster greater collaboration among federal, state, and academic stakeholders involved in foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. Key partners in this effort include the FDA-CVM, the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the Colorado Department of Public Health& Environment, and the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. By achieving these aims, this project will expand the reach of NARMS into Kentucky, improve the detection and characterization of antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens, and strengthen cross-sector collaboration for AMR surveillance and food safety preparedness at the state and national levels.