In January 2008, the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture granted approval for the temporary use of streptomycin under strict conditions. This approval was granted again for 2009, 2010 and 2011. One of the conditions is that the use be accompanied by a monitoring programme. This monitoring programme is being conducted by the research institutions Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil (ACW) and Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon (ART), and it focuses on investigating resistance in E. amylovora in the soil and on plants. Streptomycin is currently used in various countries around the world; in the United States, for example, it has been in use for more than 50 years. However, there are only a few available studies which provide information on the development of resistance. The need for studying and monitoring the development of resistance is undisputed in Switzerland. In human and veterinary medicine, antibiotic resistance is an increasingly serious problem and is being monitored and studied accordingly in the scope of national research programmes such as NFP 49 and the SEARCH (Sentinel Surveillance of Antibiotic Resistance in Switzerland) project originating from this programme.

In view of a potential spreading of antibiotic resistance, SECB is in general rather sceptical of streptomycin use. In its opinion there is a lack of reliable data for assessing the consequences of streptomycin use, and it is therefore insisting that the precautionary principle be respected. Bacteria that become resistant to streptomycin are in fact frequently resistant to other antibiotics as well, which are important in human and veterinary medicine. SECB believes that an interdisciplinary monitoring programme that takes a range of issues into account is essential. For this reason it has launched a monitoring project in cooperation with various federal agencies, research institutions, and other experts. This project goes beyond studies of E. amylovora and includes other species of bacteria, as well as the transmission of resistance genes and the resultant development of resistance to streptomycin and other antibiotics in bacteria populations in humans and animals. The  duration for the project is at least three years, and several research groups conduct it. The project research shall focus on the following aspects:

• The effects of streptomycin on the development of resistance in bacteria and on the prevalence of resistance genes in plant and soil bacteria;
• The checking of plants, soils and fruits for streptomycin residues;
• The effects of streptomycin on the development of antibiotic resistance in the bacterial flora associated with livestock in areas where streptomycin is being used.

For more information please contact the SECB Secretariat.