Over the three decades that I have worked in animal health, I have borne witness to the mounting effects of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals. Just like in people, while bacterial infections in animals were once predictably treatable with routine antimicrobials, we now face resistant infections that make it harder to treat animals. Then we end up on a slippery slope of needing to use newer antimicrobials, helping to treat the infection but adding risks for development of even more resistance. Since antimicrobials used to treat animals are mainly the same or similar to those used in people, this cascade of resistance threatens both human and animal health.
As long as we raise animals for food, fiber, companionship, or conservation, we will have some need for antimicrobials. I believe we have an ethical obligation to treat disease in animals — and we have an equally important ethical obligation to do everything we can to reduce the human health impacts of antimicrobial overuse across species. To do that, we need clear guidance that veterinarians everywhere can turn to. Creating stewardship initiatives wherever animals exist — which is everywhere — is key to avoiding irreversible global-scale resistance.
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Author: Scott Weese
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