Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms—such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—adapt to withstand medications designed to eliminate them or inhibit their growth. This phenomenon reduces the effectiveness of treatments, making infections more difficult to control and increasing the risk of disease transmission, severe illness, and mortality.
For veterinarians, understanding AMR is essential due to the interconnected health of animals, humans, and ecosystems. WOAH (World Organization of Animal Health) highlights the significance of this issue, noting that 1.3 billion people rely on livestock for their livelihoods, and over 20 million depend on aquaculture
AMR develops through natural processes, but it is accelerated by human and animal practices, including:
- Overuse of Antimicrobials: Unnecessary or excessive use of antibiotics in treating animal illnesses or for growth promotion in livestock.
- Incomplete Treatments: Failing to complete a prescribed course of antibiotics, allowing some pathogens to survive and develop resistance.
- Poor Infection Control: Inadequate hygiene and biosecurity measures that enable the spread of resistant strains.
- Improper disposal of unused and expired drugs: Improper disposal of unused and expired drugs can spread to the environment, causing resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) significantly impacts animal health, making common infections harder to treat, leading to more severe cases, and increasing treatment costs. It also poses zoonotic risks, as resistant bacteria can transfer between animals and humans, creating serious public health threats. Economically, AMR reduces the effectiveness of antimicrobials, resulting in prolonged treatment durations, higher mortality rates, and increased financial burdens for farmers and pet owners.
