Frank Møller Aarestrup

The global spread of infectious pathogenic bacteria, including those resistant to antimicrobial agents, is one of the greatest human health problems.

My research has primarily targeted the association between use of antimicrobial agents to farm animals and the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance including the human health consequences.

It has become increasingly clear that bacteria do not respect traditional borders and with the increased globalisation a problem in one country has become a problem for all countries. Thus, the research has increasingly been directed towards global spread of initially foodborne, but now also other pathogenic bacteria.

The research has contributed to the internatioanl standards for detection and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in food borne pathogens and had major influence on the ways antimicrobial agents are used worldwide.

The global focus is also documented by the fact that the research has been conducted with more than 400 co-authors, in more than 135 institutions in more than 35 countries. Furthermore, DTU-Food has partly based on the research been appointed WHO and EU reference laboratory for antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens.