How the Rational Use of Antibiotics is linked to Sustainable Animal Production

Read the article by Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Santin – Consultant in Health, Development and Sustainability in Animal Production.

In animal production, the use of antimicrobials was, for many years, seen as fundamental not only for the treatment but also for the prevention of diseases. But perhaps the most important point is its use in animal diets as a Growth Promoting Agent (AGP).

However, the increase in cases of antimicrobial resistance, especially in medical clinics, has drawn attention to the urgent need for responsible use of antibiotics. Therefore, many countries have imposed legislation to control the use of antimicrobials such as AGP, including Brazil (MAPA Ordinance No. 171, DECEMBER 13, 2018).

To exemplify this scenario, the Online Hospital Infection Notification System (SONIH) of the State of Paraná presented more than 24,000 Hospital Infections (HI) described in 2022. A highly resistant strain of the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae was the main agent involved in these infections. These strains and others E. coli that were isolated in these IH were also resistant to colistin, which until recently we used as a Growth Promoter in Animal Feed (AGP).

Certainly, this resistance should not be only to the use of this and other antibiotics in animal production, but this application must be considered as a relevant critical point in the development of resistant microorganisms.

The concept of rational use of antibiotics refers to using them as little as possible and whenever necessary, which, in practice, limits their use for treatment of clinical infections, both in humans and animals.

The good news is that in a 2023 publication, the World Organization for Animal Health (https://www.woah.org/en/new-report-reveals-global-decrease-in-antimicrobial-use-in-animals) describes 13% reduction in the use of antimicrobials in animals in the last 3 years, and animal productivity has not decreased because of this in this period. In some countries, an improvement in production rates was even observed.