Alternative approaches in combating antimicrobial resistance in animals

The growing bacterial antimicrobial resistance is one of the most serious global challenges, undermining the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics and increasing morbidity and mortality across human and animal populations. Within the One Health framework, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, interdisciplinary strategies are crucial for addressing this threat. Despite ongoing efforts, current approaches have not slowed the spread of resistant pathogens, underscoring a critical gap in the development of alternative therapeutics. This review addresses this gap by examining three promising strategies: phytotherapy (plant-derived antimicrobials), phage therapy (bacteriophage-based bacterial targeting), and antimicrobial peptides (membrane-disrupting bioactive molecules). These innovative approaches may serve as alternatives or adjuncts to traditional antimicrobials and are highly relevant to One Health applications. Emphasis is placed on their mechanisms of action, therapeutic efficacy, recent advances, and the challenges they pose for research.