Veterinary antimicrobial stewardship in North America

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Public Health
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Significant policy shifts are underway in veterinary antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) for food animals in Canada and the USA.
• These changes include prohibiting medically important antimicrobials (MIAs) as growth promoters and mandating veterinary prescriptions for MIA use in food animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the major changes in veterinary antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in food animals in Canada and the USA.
• To highlight the adoption of a 'One Health' approach in national AMS strategies.
• To identify factors influencing the development and implementation of AMS regulations.

Main Methods:

• Review of regulatory changes and policy documents in Canada and the USA concerning veterinary antimicrobial use.
• Analysis of the roles of veterinary medical associations and specialty groups in promoting AMS.
• Assessment of market demand and regulatory impacts on antimicrobial usage in food animals.

Main Results:

• Canada and the USA have implemented significant restrictions on the use of medically important antimicrobials (MIAs) in food animals.
• Both countries are increasingly adopting a 'One Health' strategy for antimicrobial stewardship.
• Despite jurisdictional challenges, veterinary regulatory bodies and professional associations are actively promoting AMS.

Conclusions:

• Regulatory changes and market forces are substantially decreasing antimicrobial use in food animals.
• The promotion of veterinary AMS is accelerating, driven by policy and demand.
• Continued collaboration and regulatory harmonization are crucial for effective national AMS strategies.