Antimicrobial resistance: a global threat

The emergence of resistance is essentially a natural phenomenon, but the irresponsible use of antibiotics accelerates this process and renders the antibiotics we have ineffective.

AMR: a global problem

In 2019, approximately 5 million people worldwide died from antimicrobial resistance-associated infections, of which 1.3 million deaths was attributed to AMR of bacterial origin. By 2050, the number of AMR-related deaths is expected to reach 10 million.

How does AMR develop?

Antimicrobial agents are used to kill or slow the growth of disease-causing microbes. Under certain conditions, selection pressure triggers the development of mechanisms that allow certain microbes to resist the action of antimicrobial agents. Resistant microbes can survive antimicrobial treatment and continue to multiply. These resistant microbes then pass on their resistance genes to other microbes.

Large-scale livestock production as a major driver of AMR development

Between 2015 and 2017, 118 countries reported quantitative data on antimicrobial use in animals, a significant increase from 2015 (89 countries). Even today, antibiotics are still used as a growth promoter in many countries. Antibiotics are also often used as a preventive measure, thus playing a role in counteracting infections resulting from poor animal husbandry conditions.

The impact of AMR on the global economy and humanity

The AMR phenomenon is expected to peak around 2050, by which time 28 million people are expected to be pushed into poverty as a result of antimicrobial resistance. 

As a result of the AMR phenomenon:

- Approximately 7.5% of the world's food-producing livestock will decline due to AMR.

- Global food exports are expected to fall by 3.8%.

- Global public health expenditure could increase by up to USD 3 trillion as a result of AMR.

Impact of AMR on human health:

- Increased morbidity and mortality.

- Reduced effectiveness of similar types of antibiotics used in humans.

- Increased human health care costs.

- Accelerated development of resistance in human pathogens.

- Infections spread more rapidly than before.

Moving towards a solution

What can farmers do to control AMR?

Farmers should ensure that antimicrobials administered to animals are only used to control or treat infectious diseases under strict veterinary supervision. Vaccination of animals is a good option to reduce the need for antibiotics, as is the use of alternative antimicrobials available on the market.

It is important to promote and apply good animal health and hygiene practices at all stages of the production and processing of food of animal origin. An important step is the introduction of sustainable production systems that improve hygiene, biosecurity and animal welfare.

Livestock farmers must comply with international standards for the responsible use of antibiotics, as well as the guidelines of the OIE, FAO and WHO.

What can we personally do to prevent AMR?

- Only use the antibiotics your doctor has prescribed for you!

- Always finish the full course of antibiotics, even if you feel better!

- Never use up any antibiotics left over from a previous course!

- Never share your antibiotic prescription with anyone else.

- Wash your hands regularly to prevent infection, avoid contact with people who are sick and get booster shots if necessary.

Botanicals with antimicrobial activity

Demand for effective alternative growth promoters is increasing in all major meat-producing countries where the use of antibiotics as growth promoters has been banned, and in those where such restrictions are yet to be introduced.

Botanicals are one of the most promising product groups with the longest track record of consistent results across geographical areas and even species.

Herbal medicines work through mechanisms at all possible levels and do not have a well-defined mechanism of action like some other classes of antibiotic substitutes. They are most effective when given continuously over a period of time and offer a number of benefits that other classes of products do not:

- They can be used for general treatment that does not require fine tuning.

- They have very wide safety margins.

- They are pelletisable formulations with stable molecules.

- They act both directly and indirectly on the feed, the host organism and through the gut flora.

- They offer many benefits beyond growth promotion and immunity enhancement.

- The complex physico-chemical system provided by the plant ingredients protects the phytoactive compounds, resulting in high stability of the active ingredients.

How does veterinary use of herbal medicines reduce the development of AMR?

- They inhibit biofilm formation.

- Efflux pump (EP) inhibitory activity.

- They reduce bacterial virulence.

- They have immunomodulatory effects.

- Reduce the potential for resistance through synergy between phytogenic substances.

The usefulness of medicinal plants for veterinary use is also undeniable. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the use of natural compounds to maintain the general health of livestock, due to their safety and efficacy.

Ayurvet Ltd's products have been used for decades by livestock farmers around the world to produce high quality animal products with reduced use of antibiotics.

The combination of medicinal herbs and essential oils helps to improve the efficiency of livestock production in a wide range of geographical regions. Ayurvet offers a wide range of solutions to replace antibiotic growth promoters for all livestock species.

It is important to understand that if we don't act, we may soon lose the antibiotics that are currently available and effective.

Source: Ayurvet Ltd.