Addressing antimicrobial resistance in United States poultry: the critical need for environmental surveillance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat, and antimicrobial use and environmental contamination, particularly in food animal production settings, are important contributors, among many others. We explore the critical role that farm environments play in shaping AMR dynamics, particularly within the rapidly expanding poultry sector, which is growing to meet the increasing global demand for animal protein. Despite the implementation of practices aimed at reducing antimicrobial use in poultry, the continued presence of antimicrobial residues and resistant bacteria in poultry farm environments may still contribute to the persistence and spread of AMR. Current surveillance efforts primarily focus on retail meat and slaughterhouse samples, neglecting environmental reservoirs. Expanding surveillance to include farm environments is crucial to understanding AMR dynamics. We also emphasize the challenges involved in measuring AMR and suggest that integrating multiple methodologies may offer a more comprehensive understanding of AMR dynamics in farm environments. Integrating environmental monitoring into AMR surveillance strategies within the One Health framework can enhance the identification of critical control points in both agricultural and environmental settings that contribute to the spread of AMR and develop more targeted mitigation strategies.