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As a result of initiatives towards more responsible antimicrobial use and stewardship, antimicrobial use has fallen globally and in most major markets. In the UK, for example, antimicrobial sales for livestock dropped by 59% between 2014 and 2022, with an 82% reduction in the use of highest-priority, critically important antimicrobials. In the wider EU, use has fallen 53% since 2011, and up to 68% in large markets like Germany.
Prevention is the responsible path to reducing the need for antimicrobials to avoid generating an increase in untreated infections. This report illustrates how governments, health professionals, veterinarians, and food producers can work together to implement greater disease prevention tools, reducing the need for antimicrobials on farms and transitioning towards healthier and more sustainable agrifood systems.
The availability and use of both antimicrobials and alternative forms of prevention vary greatly around the world. By equipping all countries with better means of prevention, the world can more effectively achieve the goal of reduced antimicrobial use while promoting more sustainable human and animal health. This report sets out examples of how practitioners have implemented improved preventative care, subsequently reducing the need for on-farm antimicrobial use, while also offering a model for how these tools can be taken up elsewhere. An overview of initiatives seeking to increase uptake and implementation of prevention on the ground is also provided.
Better nutrition and internal health can boost animals’ natural immunity, lessening the need for antimicrobials and improving health and food safety. Biosecurity measures can be implemented and improved, no matter the sophistication level of a market, to reduce antibiotic need. Modern genetic testing in livestock can reduce the risk of bacterial disease and antibiotic need. Digital technologies are bolstering disease prevention efforts for animals worldwide. For instance, a sound monitoring system in swine production to detect the respiratory health status of growing pigs has reduced antibiotic use due to more effective early intervention. Non-medically important antimicrobials can be used to treat diseases in animals. For certain diseases and situations, this approach can help reduce the need for medically important or critically important antimicrobials.
HealthforAnimals, 2024. How Prevention Can Reduce the Need for Antibiotics. Brussels
