Antimicrobial use and resistance in animals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimicrobial drugs are widely used in U.S. food animals for disease treatment, prevention, and growth promotion.
• Many antimicrobials used in animals are identical or similar to those used in human medicine.
• Accurate data on the quantity of antimicrobials used in U.S. animal agriculture is not publicly available.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in food animals.
• To discuss the implications of antimicrobial use in animal agriculture for public health.
• To explore strategies for mitigating antimicrobial resistance in food animal production.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on antimicrobial use in food animals.
• Analysis of the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance development and transfer.
• Discussion of current and proposed strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Main Results:

• Antimicrobial resistance has emerged in various bacteria, including zoonotic pathogens and commensal bacteria found in food animals.
• The use of antimicrobials in animals is a significant driver for the emergence and spread of resistance genes and resistant bacteria.
• Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance varies among different bacterial species and geographic regions.

Conclusions:

• Minimizing antimicrobial use in animal agriculture is essential to slow the development of antimicrobial resistance.
• Alternatives such as improved husbandry, vaccination, and probiotics can reduce reliance on antimicrobials.
• Monitoring programs, prudent use guidelines, and education are key strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance in food animals.