Opinion: Stewardship works in the fight to reduce the need for antibiotics

Global efforts to address one of the world’s most pressing health problems, antimicrobial resistance, are bearing results.

A recently published report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations shows how prevention is the basis for responsible management and action against antimicrobial resistance or AMR.

FAO “will support agricultural and food producers in applying best practices to reduce the need for antimicrobials and preserve the effectiveness of these life-saving medicines for future generations,” said Thanawat Tiensin, Director of FAO's Animal Health and Production Division.

“How Prevention Can Reduce the Need for Antibiotics” details progress in livestock farming since the last United Nations declaration in 2016 and comes as the UN General Assembly prepares for its high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance in New York on Thursday.

Antibiotics are a cornerstone of modern medicine. However, incorrect and excessive use can lead to resistant bacterial infections where antibiotics may no longer be effective. Addressing this challenge affects human, environmental and animal health and requires action across all sectors.

The FAO report states: “The responsibility for curbing antimicrobial resistance does not rest with any single organization or country. It is a collective effort that requires the collaboration of governments, industry, stakeholders, researchers and the public.” To this end, nearly 200 countries worldwide are taking joint action, and the efforts are showing results. As responsibility has increased, the need for antibiotics has decreased.

A progress report from HealthforAnimals last year documented the declining need for antimicrobials in most major markets. In the UK, sales of antimicrobials for livestock fell by 59% between 2014 and 2022, with the use of core and essential antimicrobials falling by 82%.

Across the EU, consumption has fallen by 53% since 2011, and by as much as 68% in key markets such as Germany. In the US, sales of medically important antibiotics have fallen by 36% since 2015. According to the latest data from the World Organisation for Animal Health, antibiotic consumption in veterinary medicine fell by 20% between 2016 and 2019.

These reductions have been made possible by diagnostic testing and a dramatic increase in the use of prevention products such as vaccines. Using diagnostics to identify the microbial pathogen and its profile, the industry can create effective vaccination protocols and administer effective treatment, reducing the need for antimicrobials.

Data from the world's largest animal health companies show that the decline in antibiotic sales is accompanied by an increase in vaccine sales. Several case studies on the use of vaccines on farms illustrate the positive association between vaccines and reduced antibiotic use. For example, E. coli vaccination reduced the need for antibiotics and reduced drug costs for two-kilogram broilers by 80%.

Biosecurity measures, i.e. physical measures to prevent the spread of diseases on and between farms, are an essential component in reducing Antibiotic resistance.

A study on pigs in the EU found that improved biosecurity and vaccination led to a 52% reduction in antibiotic use in fattening pigs and 32% in breeding animals. A review of 27 studies in 16 countries found that 70% of the results showed a positive association between biosecurity and management on farms and a reduction in antibiotic use.

Although the animal health sector has already made enormous contributions to slowing Antibiotic resistance By reducing the need for antibiotics, animal health measures alone cannot neutralise the threat to human health.

Studies have shown that the majority of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are transmitted through person-to-person contact, particularly in healthcare settings. A Lancet study analyzed more than a decade of data in the Netherlands to identify the source of the resistant bacteria. Escherichia coli The study examined human genes and found that 78.6 percent of infections were due to person-to-person transmission, the environment or other sources, while 21.4 percent were due to meat, seafood or contact with farm animals.

Ultimately a One Health An approach that includes human and veterinary medicine must simultaneously focus on preventing disease and optimising antibiotic use where it will have a disproportionate impact. Growing recognition of the One Health approach has led to a shift towards more responsible use and management of antibiotics. Global efforts have been coordinated between FAO, World Organisation for Animal Healththe UN Environmental Programme and the World Health Organization.

Tackling antimicrobial resistance in the animal health sector is only one piece of the puzzle. More comprehensive data and monitoring of drug resistance hotspots can continue to lead to more effective policies for human and animal health care.

We are confident that U.S. policymakers will continue to vigorously advocate for the responsible use of antibiotics to protect animal health while minimizing the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Alex Mathews has been CEO of the Animal Health Institute for nearly 30 years. He is an advocate of Policies and initiatives to protect animal health, food safety and human health.