Antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial stewardship

The Group of Seven (G7) Health Ministers discussed Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at a 2015 summit. A One Health approach was supported, with a general message of 'AMR affects everyone. No antibiotics – no cure'.

Agriculture Victoria resources and presentations on antimicrobial resistance

Agriculture Victoria has a new web portal on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) with information, resources and presentations for the public and for veterinarians in all fields (not just livestock vets).

Antimicrobial resistance in the dairy industry

In June 2017, cattle reproduction specialist Professor Scott McDougall and his research team completed a three-year study into antimicrobial usage and resistance in the New Zealand dairy industry.

Agriculture Victoria has published three presentations from Professor McDougall on farmer and veterinary attitudes to antimicrobial usage, measuring on-farm antimicrobial usage and disease, and helping dairy farmers optimise antimicrobial usage.

Figure 1 shows colonies of E. coli bacteria grown on a Hektoen enteric (HE) agar plate are seen in a microscopic image courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). U.S. health officials on May 26, 2016. CDC/Handout via REUTERS

Professor McDougall noted that 'to achieve changes in antimicrobial usage, there needs to be changes in the behaviour, knowledge, attitudes, skills, and aspirations of farmers and veterinarians to see personal risks and benefits'.

Professor McDougall suggested a need for ongoing discussions with farmers, and personalised and relevant AMR messaging. He also emphasised that measuring antimicrobial usage is an important prerequisite for benchmarking the current on-farm position, and monitoring any changes.

On-farm antimicrobial usage can be modified through a holistic plan, do, and review process, with SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, and Time-bound, alongside clear accountabilities.

Professor McDougall cautioned that antimicrobial usage should be assessed in the context of disease on the farm, because 'simply reducing antimicrobial use without reducing disease incidence and prevalence may result in poor welfare outcomes'.

Read the article G7 told to act on antibiotics as dreaded superbug hits U.S.

2017 Dairy Roadshow

Agriculture Victoria was a proud sponsor of the Australian Veterinary Association (Victorian Division) 2017 Dairy Roadshow, where 103 veterinarians attended three sessions. District veterinarians from Agriculture Victoria gave short presentations and promoted AMR educational materials, which included:

• magnets with key messages
• factsheets on busting myths about AMR
• posters on the AMS framework and principles of appropriate use of antimicrobials.

There is a clear association between consumption of antibiotics and the development of antimicrobial-resistant strains of microorganisms (see Figure 2).