The Issue
There are two main areas of concern regarding anti-microbial
resistance.
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The development of ant-imicrobial resistant strains of food-borne
bacteria that can cause illness in susceptible groups of people. Examples include
Salmonella
typhimurium DT 104, E.coli 0157 and Campylobacter jejuni.
These bacteria can be passed from animals to humans through
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direct handling of farm animals or their manure,
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through the consumption of undercooked meat or eggs, or unpasteurized milk.
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handling pets, or ingestion of unwashed fruits or vegetables. People infected with these
organisms may develop illnesses that do not respond to conventional antibiotic therapy.
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The transfer of resistance from animal bacteria that do
not cause disease in humans, to human bacteria. These bacteria then cause illnesses in
people that do not respond to conventional antibiotic therapy.
Antibiotic Use in Livestock
Antibiotics are used in animal agriculture in three ways:
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Therapeutic, or treatment, uses are at doses to treat specific disease conditions.
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prophylactic, or preventative, uses are when animals are treated because they are known
to be at risk or when such usage reduces disease or death during production.
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Growth promotant uses are when antimicrobials are used in feed rations at low doses to
promote growth.
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The prophylactic and growth promotant uses of anti-microbials at low
levels are believed to be the major contributor to drug resistance development; however,
scientific proof is still lacking.
Is There Another Way to Raise Animals – Current
Recommendations:
As early as 1962, concerned groups began to recommend that
antibiotics be used for the treatment of animals and humans and not for growth promotion.
Countries such as Sweden and Denmark have banned the use of antibiotics for growth
promotion. They have been able to maintain efficient poultry, beef and pork production
without the use of prophylactic antimicrobials. However, the therapeutic use of
antimicrobials has increased.
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After review of the situation in North America regarding
anti-microbial use in swine and poultry production, the consensus was that large-scale
poultry and pig production is not practical without anti-microbials available for
therapeutic and prophylactic use. However, there are many examples of large-scale pig and
poultry producers that have developed management systems that allow production with
minimal use of antimicrobials.
Public, medical, and veterinary concerns have suggested the following to address the
problem:
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More appropriate use of antimicrobials,
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Improved management to reduce the need for antimicrobials,
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National antibiotic surveillance programs to define the magnitude and scope of the
problem,
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Implementation of on-farm food safety programs, and
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Increasing research in antimicrobial resistance issues.
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An overriding principle is that animal disease is the leading cause of
poor animal welfare. Producers have a responsibility to protect their animals from
suffering due to preventable disease conditions.
Balancing anti-microbial use with the potential adverse effects on
human health while still ensuring safe, efficient, and sustainable food production is the
goal for modern day livestock producers.
Strategy for the
Future
Efforts regarding the AMR issue should focus on three areas:
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Prudent use policy for anti-microbials,
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Need for a comprehensive surveillance program,
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Prioritising research activities to support policy development.
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Regarding the prudent use policy, the Canadian Veterinary Medical
Association has taken a leading role in developing guidelines for antimicrobial drug use
in animals.
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anti-microbials should only be used within the confines of a valid
veterinary-client-patient relationship.
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the use of anti-microbials to promote growth and feed efficiency should not compromise
the therapeutic use of the same anti-microbials in animals and people.
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the prophylactic use of anti-microbials should occur only if needed to reduce the risk
of illness or death due to disease,
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the therapeutic use should only occur when there has been a specific disease organism
identified as a result of a clinical diagnosis in a herd or flock, and
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all users of anti-microbials should be educated in their proper usage, including
administration, handling, storage, disposal and record keeping.
Producers are encouraged to implement a whole herd/flock approach to
animal health that includes management, housing, nutrition, genetics, and vaccination
programs, along with prophylactic and therapeutic anti-microbial usage based on the advice
of the herd or flock veterinarian. Such a holistic approach to herd/flock management will
reduce the reliance on anti-microbial usage.
A national surveillance system for anti-microbial resistance is
required to define the problem, its magnitude and its scope. Data from such surveillance
will help guide the research activities needed to develop alternative policies in this
area.
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The major livestock commodity groups have instituted on-farm food safety
programs. These programs function by identifying potential problems, correcting them, and
monitoring them. Some programs are voluntary; some are now becoming mandatory. These
programs call for producers to join, implement the required activities, and then are
validated, generally by a professional such as a veterinarian. The on-farm food safety
programs are co-ordinated by a not-for-profit corporation structured under the auspices of
the Livestock and Livestock Products Act. As these programs develop and
mature, they will be audited and reviewed to ensure ongoing compliance. Refer to another
factsheet in this series entitled "Food Safety on the Farm" for more
information. |
Research in AMR issues is a critical component in addressing many
unanswered questions. Among the issues to be addressed are the many factors involved in
causing AMR, methods of preventing the development of AMR, and strategies for dealing with
organisms that have developed AMR. Research is also needed to develop management
strategies for producing livestock with less reliance on anti-microbials.
Summary
AMR is a serious issue in both human and animal populations. Its
causes are rooted in patterns of anti-microbial use and abuse that is prevalent in both
human and veterinary medicine.
There is no simple solution. Co-operative action by all parties to
reduce the prophylactic use of anti-microbials, and to prudently use therapeutic
anti-microbials will help to reduce the problem.
Surveillance programs on food-borne illnesses and AMR will help to
define the problem and focus our collective attention on the areas where improvement can
be made.
The goal is to produce a safe, wholesome, high quality food product
from livestock while maintaining the health and productivity of these livestock.
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