Antimicrobials are considered one of the most important scientific discoveries and are essential for the treatment of bacterial infections in both humans and animals. However, during the last decades the continuing rapid development of antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a major global public and animal health issue. Resistance to antimicrobials is a natural phenomenon, there is however no doubt that the rise and spread of resistant pathogens is boosted by the use and misuse of antimicrobials in both human and veterinary medicine. Livestock production (including aquaculture) is characterized by the use of massive amounts of antimicrobials to treat or prevent disease, as well as to promote growth. This increases the selective pressure on both commensal and pathogenic microorganisms, so farm animals can act as another pool of antimicrobial resistance genes, which can potentially be transmitted to humans through the food chain, animal contact and the environment.
With this Research Topic we aim to attract manuscripts that will improve our knowledge on the complex epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in the animal-human-environment interface, in order to better characterize its public and animal health impact. Specifically, we would like to include manuscripts that give insight into the following research questions;
1. Monitoring systems and metrics to characterize antimicrobial usage in animals.
2. Determinants associated with usage of antimicrobials in livestock and potential interventions (such as optimizing farm management) to reduce antimicrobial usage and resistance. Here we would also welcome papers that apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to determine socio-psychological and economic drivers of farmers and veterinarians towards antimicrobial usage.
3. Studies demonstrating the link between antimicrobial usage and resistance development in livestock and their products.
4. Studies exploring the ecology of antimicrobial resistance in the animal-human-environment interface through a one health approach.
5. Studies on the transmission dynamics of resistant bacteria from animal to animals or humans, between farms or animal populations etc.
6. Risk assessments on the transmission of resistant bacteria to humans along the food chain.
7. Studies addressing the economic impact and global public health burden of antimicrobial resistance in livestock production.
Antimicrobials are considered one of the most important scientific discoveries and are essential for the treatment of bacterial infections in both humans and animals. However, during the last decades the continuing rapid development of antimicrobial resistance has emerged as a major global public and animal health issue. Resistance to antimicrobials is a natural phenomenon, there is however no doubt that the rise and spread of resistant pathogens is boosted by the use and misuse of antimicrobials in both human and veterinary medicine. Livestock production (including aquaculture) is characterized by the use of massive amounts of antimicrobials to treat or prevent disease, as well as to promote growth. This increases the selective pressure on both commensal and pathogenic microorganisms, so farm animals can act as another pool of antimicrobial resistance genes, which can potentially be transmitted to humans through the food chain, animal contact and the environment.
With this Research Topic we aim to attract manuscripts that will improve our knowledge on the complex epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in the animal-human-environment interface, in order to better characterize its public and animal health impact. Specifically, we would like to include manuscripts that give insight into the following research questions;
1. Monitoring systems and metrics to characterize antimicrobial usage in animals.
2. Determinants associated with usage of antimicrobials in livestock and potential interventions (such as optimizing farm management) to reduce antimicrobial usage and resistance. Here we would also welcome papers that apply qualitative and quantitative research methods to determine socio-psychological and economic drivers of farmers and veterinarians towards antimicrobial usage.
3. Studies demonstrating the link between antimicrobial usage and resistance development in livestock and their products.
4. Studies exploring the ecology of antimicrobial resistance in the animal-human-environment interface through a one health approach.
5. Studies on the transmission dynamics of resistant bacteria from animal to animals or humans, between farms or animal populations etc.
6. Risk assessments on the transmission of resistant bacteria to humans along the food chain.
7. Studies addressing the economic impact and global public health burden of antimicrobial resistance in livestock production.