Which program monitors antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria from retail meat?

Which program monitors antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria from retail meat?

• A. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)
• B. National Institute of Health (NIH)
• C. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• D. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Answer: (A)

Monitoring antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria from the food chain is done by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. This program is a coordinated effort by federal agencies to systematically collect and test enteric bacteria from retail meat for resistance to antibiotics important in human medicine, tracking trends over time to inform policy and protect public health. Its focus on retail meat isolates is what makes it the correct choice. Other options represent broader agencies with different primary roles—NIH conducts biomedical research, EPA focuses on environmental protection, and FDA is a regulatory agency that participates in food safety but is not the standalone program described.

Monitoring antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria from the food chain is done by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. This program is a coordinated effort by federal agencies to systematically collect and test enteric bacteria from retail meat for resistance to antibiotics important in human medicine, tracking trends over time to inform policy and protect public health. Its focus on retail meat isolates is what makes it the correct choice. Other options represent broader agencies with different primary roles—NIH conducts biomedical research, EPA focuses on environmental protection, and FDA is a regulatory agency that participates in food safety but is not the standalone program described.