Global Efforts to Prevent Antibiotic-Resistant Foodborne Pathogens in Developing Countries
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) recently reported that 45 countries (among 155 countries that participated in its survey between 2015 and 2017) still use antibiotics for growth promotion in animals (Figure 1). Modern agriculture is associated with an increase in the use of antimicrobials (antibiotics). The responsible use of antibiotics is important to ensure food safety and food security. However, the inappropriate, unnecessary, and overuse (70% of the global increase in antibiotic use in food animals, in the next two decades, will be in developing countries) of antibiotics in food-producing animals has significantly jeopardized their effects by creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The current world population is about 7.6 billion people and is projected to reach about 10.0 billion people by 2050. To feed all of these people, global agricultural production must increase by 60 percent by 2050. Furthermore, increasing incomes in developing countries have been associated with an increased demand for high-value food products including food animals (meat, eggs, milk, and dairy products), fruits, and vegetables. In developing countries, most of the agricultural production increases will come from increasing yields and/or increasing crops. Modern agricultural intensification (i.e., the overcrowding of animals/plants, especially in conjunction with poor farming practices) is associated with increase antibiotic use.
In developing countries, antibiotics are available over the counter through unregulated supply chains. Total antibiotic use in food-producing animals will exceed 200,000 tons in 2030. It is expected that about 70 percent [99% in countries such as Brazil, India, and China (the largest antibiotic consumer)] of the global increase in antibiotic use in food animals over the next two decades will be in developing countries.
Today, in some countries, the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals (cattle, poultry, swine, etc.) is 3–4 times higher than used by people. Antibiotics are used in food-producing animals to a) treat infected animals (disease treatment), b) prevent illness in healthy animals when infected animals are present (metaphylactic uses or disease control), c) prevent illness in animals when no infected animals are present (prophylactic uses), and d) growth promotion (production-purpose uses). Growth-promoting antibiotics are normally given to increase feed efficiency/weight gain where animals can be exposed to low doses over a long period of time, which can lead to the development of resistant bacteria.
Recommendations for Developing Countries
• Adopt the WHO guidelines and other international practices and standards in monitoring and managing antibiotic use in food-producing animals
• Develop policies, establish regulatory frameworks, and strengthen the capacity of regulatory enforcement to reduce overall use of antibiotics in food-producing animals
• Improve national and international collaboration in antibiotic-resistance prevention, surveillance, and control
• Elevate antibiotic resistance as a national priority and engage all stakeholders (food industry, veterinarians, regulators, etc.) in the fight against antibiotic resistance
• Develop effective interventions and measures to prevent foodborne pathogens, especially those antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens from entering the food value chains
• Use novel diagnostic methods such as whole-genome sequencing to identify antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens
• Establish data collection systems to collect quality quantitative data on the use of antibacterial agents in animals
• Ban the use of antibiotics important for human health for growth promotion
• Prohibit the use of antibiotics as a preventive tool in the absence of disease in animals, especially when there is no justification from veterinary professionals
• Use antibiotics that are least important for human health in food-producing animals, if necessary
• Prohibit the sale of antibiotics without a prescription and prohibit unrestricted access to antibiotics
• Use immunization/vaccination and improve hygiene to reduce infections in food-producing animals
• Use good practices to reduce the need for antibiotics