A proposed analytic framework for determining the impact of an antimicrobial resistance intervention.

This review examines the use of antimicrobial agents in food animals and their impact on human health, particularly the emergence and spread of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). While antimicrobial agents are commonly used in food animal production to prevent and treat bacterial infections, overuse has been linked to AMR. Various strategies to reduce antimicrobial use in food animals, including vaccines, improved animal husbandry practices, and alternative therapies, are discussed. However, the review acknowledges the limitations of these strategies, such as cost-effectiveness and potential unintended consequences. Information on the percentage of antimicrobial use and resistance in food animals is provided for different classes of antibiotics. The percentages of use and resistance vary among these classes, with tetracyclines having the highest percentage of use and erythromycin and tylosin having the highest percentage of resistance. The review cites studies on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in food animals, including Escherichia coli isolates from broiler chickens in the UK and Egypt. The review highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to reducing antimicrobial use in food animals and controlling the spread of AMR, including implementing more effective regulatory policies, promoting responsible use of antimicrobial agents, and developing alternative therapies and management practices. Overall, the review emphasizes the importance of addressing the issue of AMR in food animals to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents for both animal and human health.

Stakeholder position paper: Companion animal veterinarian

Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Eight US Hospitals: Complexities of Analysis and Modeling

Farmers’ knowledge and expectations of antimicrobial use and resistance are strongly related to usage in Dutch livestock sectors

Early evaluation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on antimicrobial use in food animals on antimicrobial resistance trends reported by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (2012–2019)

Preface to the proceedings of the SASKVAL III international workshop on validation and regulatory analysis.

Is antimicrobial administration to food animals a direct threat to human health? A rapid systematic review

Making sense of antimicrobial use and resistance surveillance data: application of ARIMA and transfer function models

Antimicrobial resistance, equine practitioners and human health: A true One Health issue or political interference?

Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Pigs and Chickens: A Review of the Science, Policy and Control Practices from Farm to Slaughter – Executive Summary

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is the end result of a multitude of factors. Some of the key factors beyond innate resistance include antimicrobial selective pressure (1–5), acquisition of a foreign genetic resistance element(s) (1–5), clonal dissemination (1) and new mutations (2,3,5); factors vary for different species and geographical locations. Increased global antimicrobial use is the foremost reason for the spread of AMR in the community setting (1). Social networks of individuals (households, schools and child care facilities) have served both as a reservoir for these bacteria and as a common route for their transmission. Similarly, hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities have also served as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant organisms, and the discharge of patients from these facilities contributes to the spread of resistance within communities. In addition, the use of antimicrobials in food animals has been an important contributing cause (1).

The Next Pandemic

IntroductionInappropriate antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock production is an important aspect of the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Ethiopia, a low-income country with a large and increasing livestock population, AMU in food animals is not properly regulated. Hence, farmers are fully free to use antimicrobials to their (perceived) benefit. Therefore, understanding farmers' mindsets is important to improve antimicrobial stewardship in the livestock sector.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted to assess livestock disease management practices and knowledge, attitude, and behavior (KAB) among livestock producers regarding AMU, residues, and resistance, as well as factors potentially explaining differences in KAB. We determined the KAB of livestock owners of three selected districts of central and western Ethiopia (n = 457), using a pretested questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between potential explanatory variables and the KAB scores of the respondents.ResultsThe results showed that 44% of the farmers used antimicrobials in the past few years, where antibiotics (21%) and trypanocides (11%) were most widely used to manage livestock diseases. Furthermore, most farmers showed poor knowledge about AMU, residues, and AMR (94%) and unfavorable attitudes (<50% correct answers) toward contributing factors for AMR (97%). On the contrary, 80% of the respondents had overall good behavior scores (≥50% correct answers) related to AMU. Multivariate analysis results showed that having good knowledge, keeping ≥2 animal species, and the occurrence of ≥4 livestock diseases on the farm in a year were strong predictors of bad behavior scores (p < 0.05). The findings of the current investigation also revealed that the incidence of livestock diseases on the farm and a higher level of formal education significantly contributed to better knowledge and desirable attitudes but bad AMU behavior.ConclusionA low level of awareness about and undesirable attitudes toward AMU and AMR could potentially affect farmers' behavior toward judicious AMU, thus requiring awareness creation efforts on livestock disease management practices.

1The Review on AMR was an expert panel commissioned by the UK Government in 2014 tasked with analysing the economic and social impacts of AMR and proposing solutions to these. 2NICE is a UK non-departmental public body that sponsored by but separate from the Department of Health that produces evidence-based guidance for health practitioners. 3NHS England is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health that oversees planning and delivery of health services in England. 4Note that circulation of the News of the World ceased in July 2011; the Sun on Sunday was launched by the same newsgroup in 2012, but is unavailable on the Nexis database.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to global public health, and excessive antimicrobial use (AMU) in animals is a major contributing factor. We used national AMU data for food animals to examine the current status and trends for AMU in food animals in China from 2018–2020. In 2020, China used 32,776.30 tons of antimicrobials in food animals, amounting to 165 g of antimicrobials per ton of animal products. AMU in China increased throughout the 2018–2020 study period; however, the data still showed a consistent and notable reduction from those of 2017, coinciding with the implementation of the China National Action Plan for Combating Animal Antimicrobial Resistance. Among the antimicrobials used, tetracyclines, macrolides and β-lactams (including β-lactam inhibitors) were the most commonly used in food animals. Analysis by antimicrobial class revealed shifts in usage patterns, such as decreased tetracycline use and increased macrolide and β-lactam use. Furthermore, the use of antimicrobial growth promoters decreased sharply, from 51.78% in 2018 to 28.7% in 2020. Compared with AMU data from other countries, China used more antimicrobials, but the values were relatively lower when adjusted for population correction units. These findings highlight China's remarkable efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance and promoting antimicrobial stewardship, thus contributing significantly to global initiatives.