Handling antimicrobials with care

22/11/2019

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming an ever more prevalent and dangerous threat. World Antibiotics Awareness Week 2019 is an opportunity to sound the alarm. In coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), FAO engages in this annual event to raise awareness about the need to “Handle antimicrobials with care”.

Learn more by reviewing some FAO’s key materials on AMR.

The FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2016−2020
This publication provides a roadmap for FAO’s work across all relevant dimensions, including terrestrial and aquatic animal health and production, crop production, and food safety.
Antimicrobial movement from agricultural areas to the environment: The missing link. A role for nuclear techniques
This paper focuses on the methodologies that can be used to detect and trace the source and transport of antibiotics through soil and water, including nuclear techniques.
Prudent and efficient use of antimicrobials in pigs and poultry
This manual is intended to assist pharmacists, veterinarians, other animal health workers, farm owners and their staff in using antibiotics in a prudent and medically efficient way without loss in productivity.
Carryover in feed and transfer from feed to food of unavoidable and unintended residues of approved veterinary drugs
This paper suggests that carryover of veterinary drug residues in feed or transfer to food must be properly managed to avoid contaminated feed to harm animal or render food unsafe for human consumption.
Drivers, dynamics and epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in animal production
This paper deals with the epidemiology of the emergence of AMR as a consequence of antimicrobial use in animal production, and the risk of its spread via food distribution and the environment.
Tackling antimicrobial use and resistance in pig production − Lessons learned in Denmark
This publication describes the challenging campaign to tackle the use of antibiotics in the Danish swine-producing sector made possible by collaboration between Danish regulatory authorities, private veterinary practitioners and swine producers.
The performance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing programmes relevant to aquaculture and aquacultural products
This technical paper addresses best practice guidelines for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria isolated from aquatic animals and their environments.

Further reading

Handling antimicrobials with care

22/11/2019

FAO Organizational Chart