New resource on antimicrobial resistance

Fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern and a key priority for the AVA. Our work in the fight against AMR encompasses antibiotic prescribing guidelines, antimicrobial stewardship, community awareness, and the national One Health policy agenda.

The AVA has developed a number of AMR resources, guidelines, codes of practice and policies for veterinarians, as well as providing links to useful resources shared by the profession.

A new resource How Prevention Can Reduce the Need for Antibiotics has been developed by HealthforAnimals (the global animal health organisation), in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The report contributes to the global discussion on antimicrobial resistance as nations prepare for the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on AMR on 26 September.

The report was built on data collected by HealthforAnimals and case studies submitted by their Members (animal health companies and national organisations like Animal Medicines Australia).

The report:

• Outlines the tools and practices that can reduce the need for antimicrobials in livestock production such as vaccination, biosecurity, genetics, digital technologies and more.
• Provides data on successes achieved, including reductions at farm, national and regional level, increases in vaccine adoption and management of resistance.
• Offers case studies demonstrating how prevention has been implemented through on-the-ground projects and cross-sectoral collaboration. 

Key highlights within the report include:

• ‘Reducing the Need’: This report and the RENOFARM program illustrates HealthforAnimals’ success in pushing the preferred terminology: ‘reducing the need to use’ rather than ‘reducing antimicrobial use’. HealthforAnimals first coined the ‘reducing the need’ in their ‘Roadmap to Reducing the Need for Antibiotics’ and have consistently pushed it since.
• Valuable quotes: FAO’s Director of Animal Health states in the report that ‘use of antimicrobials…has significantly contributed to improved animal welfare and safer production.’
• Data: The report outlines extensive data on global reductions in antimicrobial need and increase in prevention, including referencing HealthforAnimals data. It also highlights government findings that AMR within livestock “remains low for most critically important antimicrobials.”
• Animal Health Innovation: The report provides a clear endorsement of animal health technologies such as vaccines, genetics and digital as the core of prevention.