UK One Health Report on antimicrobial resistance published
UK - The UK One Health Report, published Thursday 31 January, brings together data on the levels of antibiotic use in humans and animals, said DEFRA
1 February 2019
2 minute read
By: The report captures resistance in four bacteria that are common to both humans and animals in the UK, as well as comparative data on anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in isolates from retail meat.
The report finds that the total combined quantity of antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine dropped by 19 percent between 2013 and 2017. The levels of resistance dropped between 2013 and 2017 for the majority of antibiotics tested in bacterial isolates from healthy food-producing animals.
The report follows the five year AMR Strategy, launched on 24 January, which sets out the ambition for AMR to be contained and controlled by 2040, covering health, animals, the environment and the food chain.
Professor Peter Borriello, CEO of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, said:
“A key priority for the UK government is to protect human and animal health by minimising the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Our total combined use of antibiotics in humans and animals dropped by 19 percent between 2013 and 2017, and represented falls for both animal (35%) and human (6 percent) medicine. Overall, there was a reduction in resistance to critical antibiotics.
“I am pleased to see our progress presented in this second One Health report, which provides valuable information for us to use to progress further in tackling the threat of AMR together.”
Ryan Johnson
Ryan worked in conservation from 2008 to 2017, during which time he operated a rainbow trout hatchery and helped to maintain public and protected green spaces in Canada for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. As editor of The Poultry Site, he now writes about challenges and opportunities in agriculture across the globe.
