One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial Resistance

Approaching any issue from a One Health perspective necessitates looking at the interactions of people, domestic animals, wildlife, plants, and our environment. For antimicrobial resistance this includes antimicrobial use (and abuse) in the human, animal and environmental sectors. More importantly,...

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Main Authors: Peter J. Collignon, Scott A. McEwen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-01-01
Series:Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/4/1/22
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author Peter J. Collignon
Scott A. McEwen
author_facet Peter J. Collignon
Scott A. McEwen
author_sort Peter J. Collignon
collection DOAJ
description Approaching any issue from a One Health perspective necessitates looking at the interactions of people, domestic animals, wildlife, plants, and our environment. For antimicrobial resistance this includes antimicrobial use (and abuse) in the human, animal and environmental sectors. More importantly, the spread of resistant bacteria and resistance determinants within and between these sectors and globally must be addressed. Better managing this problem includes taking steps to preserve the continued effectiveness of existing antimicrobials such as trying to eliminate their inappropriate use, particularly where they are used in high volumes. Examples are the mass medication of animals with critically important antimicrobials for humans, such as third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, and the long term, in-feed use of antimicrobials, such colistin, tetracyclines and macrolides, for growth promotion. In people it is essential to better prevent infections, reduce over-prescribing and over-use of antimicrobials and stop resistant bacteria from spreading by improving hygiene and infection control, drinking water and sanitation. Pollution from inadequate treatment of industrial, residential and farm waste is expanding the resistome in the environment. Numerous countries and several international agencies have now included a One Health Approach within their action plans to address antimicrobial resistance. Necessary actions include improvements in antimicrobial use, better regulation and policy, as well as improved surveillance, stewardship, infection control, sanitation, animal husbandry, and finding alternatives to antimicrobials.
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spelling doaj.art-4f6f7a578ff24909acbbb27c095375902022-12-22T02:20:16ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662019-01-01412210.3390/tropicalmed4010022tropicalmed4010022One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial ResistancePeter J. Collignon0Scott A. McEwen1Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Canberra Hospital, Garran, ACT 2605, AustraliaDepartment of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph N1G 2W1, CanadaApproaching any issue from a One Health perspective necessitates looking at the interactions of people, domestic animals, wildlife, plants, and our environment. For antimicrobial resistance this includes antimicrobial use (and abuse) in the human, animal and environmental sectors. More importantly, the spread of resistant bacteria and resistance determinants within and between these sectors and globally must be addressed. Better managing this problem includes taking steps to preserve the continued effectiveness of existing antimicrobials such as trying to eliminate their inappropriate use, particularly where they are used in high volumes. Examples are the mass medication of animals with critically important antimicrobials for humans, such as third generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, and the long term, in-feed use of antimicrobials, such colistin, tetracyclines and macrolides, for growth promotion. In people it is essential to better prevent infections, reduce over-prescribing and over-use of antimicrobials and stop resistant bacteria from spreading by improving hygiene and infection control, drinking water and sanitation. Pollution from inadequate treatment of industrial, residential and farm waste is expanding the resistome in the environment. Numerous countries and several international agencies have now included a One Health Approach within their action plans to address antimicrobial resistance. Necessary actions include improvements in antimicrobial use, better regulation and policy, as well as improved surveillance, stewardship, infection control, sanitation, animal husbandry, and finding alternatives to antimicrobials.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/4/1/22One Healthantibioticsantimicrobialsantimicrobial resistanceenvironmentwaterinfrastructure
spellingShingle Peter J. Collignon
Scott A. McEwen
One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial Resistance
Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
One Health
antibiotics
antimicrobials
antimicrobial resistance
environment
water
infrastructure
title One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial Resistance
title_full One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial Resistance
title_fullStr One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial Resistance
title_full_unstemmed One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial Resistance
title_short One Health—Its Importance in Helping to Better Control Antimicrobial Resistance
title_sort one health its importance in helping to better control antimicrobial resistance
topic One Health
antibiotics
antimicrobials
antimicrobial resistance
environment
water
infrastructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/4/1/22
work_keys_str_mv AT peterjcollignon onehealthitsimportanceinhelpingtobettercontrolantimicrobialresistance
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