RESEARCHER FROM VGNKI DELIVERED A SPEECH AT A ROUND TABLE DURING WORLD WEEK ON Antimicrobial resistance
On November 18, 2025, the press centre of media conglomerate “Russia today” hosted a round table discussion dedicated to the World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (AMR) that is annually observed from November 18 to 24.
Traditionally, the event was organized by the representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO UN), the World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) in the Russian Federation.
At the round table discussion, Olga Ivanova, a leading researcher of the Scientific Planning and Research Division of the Russian State Centre for Animal Feed and Drug Standardization and Quality (VGNKI), Candidate of Veterinary Sciences, presented a paper on improving the diagnostics of antibiotic-resistant zoonotic pathogens and alternative approaches to preventing their spread.
In her speech, she addressed the role of VGNKI in implementing the national strategy for the prevention of antibiotic resistance and in establishing a collection of antibiotic-resistant microbial strains. Olga Ivanova also elaborated on the development of a methodological framework for identifying main antimicrobial drug groups, including those important for medicine, such as colistin, fluroquinolones, and cephalosporins in animal products.
Specific emphasis was placed on the development of plates for assessing microbial sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs. These test-systems enable specialists to obtain accurate data on microbial resistance at the establishments, and simplify data collection system on the spread dynamics of antibiotic resistance in Russia.
Furthermore, Olga Ivanova shared information about the research work in VGNKI conducted with the use of previously developed methods of identifying resistance genes in bacteria via real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with detection. These methods enable the detection of resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae bacteria in samples from food raw materials, food, animals, and objects of environment. Tests may be performed without the stage of bacterial isolates extraction. Additionally, it is possible to detect resistance genes to aminoglycosides, sulfanilamides, trimethoprim, penicillin, cephalosporins, colistin, fluorquinolones, and tetracyclines.
In conclusion, the researcher stated that the activities of VGNKI in the field of antibiotic resistance monitoring and control contribute to enhancing food products safety and preventing the spread of drug-resistant microorganisms, which pose a hazard to both animals and humans.
