The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) for Enteric Bacteria was established in 1996 to monitor bacterial resistance, specifically, the resistance among Salmonella and other enteric bacteria. The 17 participating state health departments forward every tenth human Salmonella isolate to Center for Disease Control (CDC) for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
The CDC is requesting that additional EIP sites participate in the study of foodborne bacteria. Such bacteria is not uncommon and often is associated with the use of antimicrobial agents in food animals, especially in retail food. This study will assist in generating a database that may be utilized to augment the development of intervention programs to stem the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in the meal and poultry food supply. The goal of the study is to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella, Campylobacter, E.coli and enterococci isolated from a sample of chicken, ground turkey, ground beef and pork chops purchased from selected grocery stores in the catchment area of the California EIP FoodNet site. This will include samples collected from Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco County retail grocery stores.
On November 2, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved Agreement #28-706-24 with Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc. to pay county an amount not to exceed $127,479 for participation in the California EIP Program for the period September 1, 2021 through August 31, 2022. This agreement included mutual indemnification.
On May 10, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Amendment Agreement #28-706-25 with Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc. to increase the amount payable to the county by $31,128 to a new amount not to exceed $158,607 for participation in the California EIP with no change in the term.
Approval of this Agreement #28-706-26 will allow continuous funding to support the EIP - Retail Foods Project through August 31, 2023. This agreement includes mutual indemnification. This request being brought to the Board was delayed due to the timing of the grant award.
If this agreement is not approved the County will not receive additional funding to continue provide services for the EIP.