Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a long-standing issue in human healthcare and is now increasingly recognized as a significant concern in animal health. Addressing the growing threat of AMR, particularly antibiotic resistance, is a top priority for the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the broader European medicines regulatory network. In veterinary medicine, there is an increasing emphasis on the responsible use of antimicrobials in animals.

What is antimicrobial resistance? Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms evolve to withstand the effects of drugs that once effectively treated infections. These drugs include antimicrobials such as antibiotics, which are designed to kill or inhibit bacterial growth.

The use of antimicrobials in animals can contribute to the development of resistant bacteria, which can then be transmitted to humans through the food supply or direct contact. This transfer can undermine the effectiveness of antimicrobials in treating human diseases.

The rise in bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics is becoming a global public health crisis, as it limits the available treatment options for certain human infections. Repeated exposure to antimicrobials can cause microbes to evolve, rendering them impervious to treatments that were previously effective.

To curb the spread of resistance and protect both animal and human health, the EMA is actively promoting the judicious use of antimicrobials in animals.

More on the topic can be found on EMA’s websites: Antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/veterinary-regulatory-overview/antimicrobial-resistance-veterinary-medicine/advice-impacts-using-antimicrobials-animals and Advice on impacts of using antimicrobials in animals https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/veterinary-regulatory-overview/antimicrobial-resistance-veterinary-medicine/advice-impacts-using-antimicrobials-animals.