Antimicrobials: Handle with care
16/11/2022
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development today. Drug-resistant microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites can spread between and within animal, human and plant populations and migrate through the environment.
Therefore, addressing AMR requires multi-sectoral interventions known as the One Health approach. This holistic approach recognizes that animal, human, plant and environmental health are inextricably intertwined and interdependent.
World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 is a global campaign to raise awareness and understanding of AMR and promote best practices among One Health stakeholders to reduce the emergence and spread of drug-resistant pathogens. Tackling AMR through One Health will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, transform agrifood systems, save millions of lives, preserve antimicrobials for generations and protect the future from drug-resistant diseases.
In collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), known collectively as the Quadripartite, FAO is working to raise awareness of the need for more responsible use of antimicrobials.
Learn more by reviewing some of FAO’s key materials on AMR:
FAO Action Plan on AMR 2021 – 2025
This document outlines the FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025 which serves as a roadmap to address AMR in the food and agriculture sectors.
Strategic Framework for collaboration on antimicrobial resistance. Together for One Health
This framework represents a milestone in the decades-long history of collaboration between the Tripartite organizations - a collaboration that now is even stronger as a result of its close engagement with the United Nations Environment Programme.
Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund annual report
This annual report highlights progress made by the Antimicrobial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund in 2021, including supporting Morocco in establishing the first One Health governance mechanism and building Tajikistan’s integrated surveillance system
Foodborne antimicrobial resistance: Compendium of Codex standards
This publication brings together three Codex texts, two guidelines and a code of practice that will support governments in designing and running a successful strategy to tackle foodborne AMR.
This publication describes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s multisectoral voluntary approach to antibiotic stewardship in food-producing animals, developed as a collaboration between industry and government.
Further reading
- Responsible use of antimicrobials in beekeeping
- Antimicrobial resistance and the United Nations Sustainable development Cooperation Framework
- The International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring (InFARM) System and IT platform
- Water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and wastewater management to prevent infections and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
- Assessment of antimicrobial resistance risks in six Latin American countries 2019–2021: Integrated regional project in antimicrobial resistance
- Understanding antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture
- Tackling antimicrobial use and resistance in dairy cattle: Lessons learned in Sweden
- Antimicrobial resistance in livestock in the Lao People's Democratic Republic
- International instruments on the use of antimicrobials across the human, animal and plant sectors
- Handbook Responsible use of antibiotics in livestock production for animal health workers in Viet Nam
- How to reduce the use of antibiotics in dairy cattle
- How to reduce the use of antibiotics in poultry production
- Animal nutrition strategies and options to reduce the use of antimicrobials in animal production
- Antimicrobial resistance in food
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