Reducing antimicrobial use in food animals

Abstract

The large and expanding use of antimicrobials in livestock, a consequence of growing global demand for animal protein, is of considerable concern in light of the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Use of antimicrobials in animals has been linked to drug-resistant infections in animals and humans. In September 2016, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly recognized the inappropriate use of antimicrobials in animals as a leading cause of rising AMR. In September 2018, the interagency group established by the UN Secretary General will report on progress in the global response to AMR, including antimicrobial consumption in animals. This study provides a baseline to monitor efforts to reduce antimicrobial use and assess how 3 global policies might curb antimicrobial consumption in food animal production: enforcing global regulations to cap antimicrobial use, adherence to nutritional guidelines leading to reduced meat consumption, and imposing a global user fee on veterinary antimicrobial use. This work arises isfrom the Zoonoses and Emerging Livestock Systems (ZELS) programme