About this Research Topic

Background

Discovery and the subsequent use of antimicrobial drugs made an enormous contribution to the control and management of infectious diseases thus saving millions of lives. Antimicrobial drugs are also extensively used in agriculture, from food animal production to aquaculture and horticulture, where their use demonstrated significant economic benefits, not necessarily associated with the treatment of infectious diseases. This widespread use of antimicrobials, especially overuse and indiscriminate use in agriculture, resulted in the selection of antimicrobial resistance in many bacteria, including pathogenic.

Bacterial resistance arises directly from the prolonged and intensive usage of antimicrobial drugs. Nevertheless, managing drug-resistant bacteria necessitates escalated dosages and durations of antibacterial treatments or the adoption of novel antibacterial agents. This results in the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria exhibiting heightened resistance and broader spectrums of resistance. It can even give rise to super-resistant bacteria, thus perpetuating a detrimental cycle that continually diminishes the dwindling reservoir of humanity's defense against bacterial infections. This profoundly impacts the sustainable progression of livestock and poultry farming, imperiling human life and well-being. This situation critically jeopardizes the sustainable advancement of livestock and poultry farming while menacing human life and health. The advent of the post-antibiotic era looms ahead, where despite the existence of antibacterial drugs, their efficacy against bacterial infections is compromised. In a recent survey, it was projected that over 1.2 million individuals succumbed to antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections in 2019, indirectly contributing to approximately 4.95 million deaths. This toll significantly surpassed the mortality rates attributed to AIDS and malaria. As reported, if the present circumstances persist, the world could witness an annual death toll of 10 million by 2050 due to this crisis, effectively making it the foremost cause of human mortality. Notably, more than half of the globe's antibiotic consumption occurs within the livestock and poultry sector. Hence, comprehending the perils of bacterial resistance within this industry becomes imperative. It demands an in-depth analysis of the origins and mechanisms of bacterial resistance, the formulation of strategies to curtail its emergence, and the innovation of new antimicrobial agents or enhancers.

This Research Topic extends an invitation to Original Research articles, Reviews and Mini-Reviews, Methods, Opinions, and Perspectives concerning Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), with a specific focus on innovative approaches to combat AMR in Livestock and Poultry Farming. The comprehensive themes are outlined as follows:

1. Epidemiological investigation of drug-resistant bacteria
2. Uncovering new mechanisms of drug resistance
3. Identification of novel antibacterial drugs
4. Identification of fresh sensitizers or enhancers for antibacterial drugs
5. Techniques for screening new antimicrobial drugs

Keywords: drug resistance, antibiotics, bacterial, livestock, poultry farming

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