Author: Vikas Saxena
Corresponding Author:
Vikas Saxena, BVSc&AH, MVSc, Ph.D.
Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases,
School of Medicine,
University of Maryland,
Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
Email: VSaxena@som.umaryland.edu
Ph.: +1-614-607-4216
The exuberance emanating from the discovery of first antibiotic, penicillin ebbed quickly, following identification of a bacterial inactivator with in the same quarter of the 20th century. Nevertheless, scientists and the pharmaceutical industry continued in their quest to create many more antimicrobial agents, weapons in the war against several bacterial diseases. Easy availability of these antimicrobials and their use in human and veterinary medicine, and agriculture has transformed the world by providing multiple treatment options for otherwise lethal diseases.
However, the blissful availability of effective antimicrobial substances has faded due to overuse (and mostly misuse) of these drugs in humans, animals, and plants. This indiscriminate use has led to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a list of twelve bacteria and bacterial superfamilies, some of which are resistant to almost all available antimicrobial agents (1). The rate at which bacterial pathogens are developing resistance to available drugs is alarming and may led us into a post-antibiotic era where once easily treatable disease would become lethal once again. This crisis could result in an estimated societal and financial cost of US$100 trillion (2). These dire prospects have generated interest in the concept of “One Health”, where health of people is considered in conjunction with that of animals and environment.
A fair share of this antimicrobial resistance is attributed to the food-animal industry. Antibiotics are routinely used in food-animals to prevent, control, and treat diseases. It has been proven that antibiotics do not increase growth-rate of food-animals, and therefore their use should be stopped. In this scenario role of the veterinary professionals is of utmost importance.
There is an increasing demand that veterinarians should strictly supervise use of antimicrobials, and should play an important role in advising farmers and food-animal owners, such as those involved in poultry, pork and beef industries. In 2013, US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) issued guidelines on the usage of drugs in animal feed or drinking water (3). By following these guidelines, veterinarians can play an important role in disease control management by encouraging responsible and judicious use of antimicrobial substances, maximizing the efficacy of existing treatments, and by working towards preventing infections. Thus they can improve animal welfare and work towards realizing the objective of “One Health”.
We hope that this special issue of the Journal of Veterinary Science, marking World Veterinary Day, can provide a common platform to discuss initiatives and investigations in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. This special issue may also serve as a forum to raise awareness among various concerned organizations, and to sensitize veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals, and the general public regarding the prudent use of antimicrobials.
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