Reduction of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
VetEffecT is working to decrease the use of antibiotics in animal production in its international and national projects by introducing good practices in dairy, poultry, pig and other animal production sectors to reduce antimicrobial resistance. Especially where the risks are the biggest: low and middle income countries (LMICs). Other AMR projects VetEffecT consist of developing guidance for countries on an appropriate and useful AMR monitoring framework and participation in a One Health JPIAMR research network ARCH on AMR (antimicrobial resistance).
Bad bugs
Due to increasing and excessive use of antibiotics in humans and in animal production since several decades, bacteria are increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Humans with relatively simple infections caused by resistant bacteria may die when no effective antibiotics are available anymore. Antimicrobial Resistance is therefore one of the greatest risks for mankind. Intensive animal production is an important risk for selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria that may also infect humans. However, with specific measures, the use of antibiotics and subsequently the occurrence of resistant bacteria can be greatly reduced.
What’s to be done
Europe
EU countries should better uniform AMR monitoring in livestock. This is the outcome of our review of antimicrobial resistance surveillance programmes in livestock and their meat in Europe, with a focus on antimicrobial resistance patterns in humans. In this review, we describe surveillance programmes reporting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and resistance genes in bacterial isolates from livestock and meat and compare them with those relevant for human health. Curious about the conclusions? To read the full paper click here.
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