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Antimicrobial Resistance In Food Animals (Initial Thesis: Antimicrobial…
Antimicrobial Resistance In Food Animals
Initial Thesis: Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise along with bacterial resistant pathogens, so we must stop using antibiotics on animals intended to be consumed as food product.
Initial Understandings
I know from my first source that antimicrobial resistance is rising in low and middle income countries, but why those countries specifically?
Small scale farming is more common in low-middle income countries as a form of food security. Small scale farmers will buy antibiotics, but they don't have the knowledge on the correct antibiotic dosage and will overuse antibiotics just to keep the animal healthy(Manish Kakkar). Where do these small scale farmers obtain these antibiotics?
Most small scale farmers just buy antibiotics over the counter, instead of a vet which might be less available or expensiveLMICs(lower to middle income countries). This is why many of these farmers use incorrect dosages(Graham, Jay P.).
The increase in resistance is partly due to the environment they raise the animals inside. Raising animals inside makes it easy for them to get sick. The animals raised inside or around homes without much space are more susceptible to disease(Graham, Jay P.).
Now i understand the reasons or causation behind a lot of the issues with antibiotic resistance. That mainly being that the animals kept in and raised in smaller areas get sick more often so they require antibiotics more often(Graham, Jay P.). So what problems are in exigent need of change?
Another problem that needs solving through policy is the types of antibiotics, companies and farmers are allowed to use. What are the current laws on banned antibiotics?
The U.S has the veterinary feed directive or VFD is an FDA regulation its goal is to promote judicial use of antibiotics. It requires veterinary oversight when there would be use of VFD drugs(drugs to be fed to animals that need veterinary oversight). VFD focuses on medically important antibiotics and their regulation and use(Centner, Terence J.). Why might other countries not be able to implement and enforce these laws?
Other countries and governments can't implement them because the VFD requires a licensed veterinarian to allow the use of VFD drugs(FACT SHEET: Veterinary Feed Directive...). However in other countries veterinarians aren't as common considering the training and education required to become a vet aren't as easily accessible.
My target Audience has become governmental regulatory agencies that deal with agricultural Legislation like the FDA. As well as other health organizations like WHO(World Health organization)(Manish Kakkar). My stakeholders would have to be small scale farmers in lesser developed countries, considering they live in countries where antimicrobial resistance is on the rise. Including the fact their proximity places them at greater risk of becoming infected.
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Small and low income countries typically don't have any regulations or bans on antibiotic use(Manish Kakkar). Which leads to the use of human antibiotics on livestock which creates pathogens resistant to normal human antibiotic treatment.
Farmers can use Antibiotics meant for human use to treat disease(Cox, Louis A). Issue is that will cause bacteria in farms become resistant to the antibiotics human use them on the animals. Which is a big issue because if people get sick with these bacterias depending on the context of the situation would be unable to get treatment.
First issue to address, i know a lot of small scale farmers get their antibiotics without consultation with a veterinarian. What solutions have been proposed or policies/regulations enacted to deal with this issue in the world?
Set up a surveillance on antibiotics, know whose getting what antibiotic and how much(Centner, Terence J). If that could be implemented it would allow the government to better regulate the amount and type of antibiotic farmers are receiving. However, what constraints might prevent a country from enacting and then enforcing the regulation?
Small scale farmers typically live in low-middle income countries. Which makes it difficult to pass regulations and enforce them without the infrastructure that a lot of developed countries have(Manish Kakkar).
I ask about the constraints because not all countries are as developed as America and Europe, so making policy has to take into account the general situation of the country itself. Because an all out surveillance isn't as probable a solution in other countries due to constraints like budget.
Some strategies propose cooperation with Global Antimicrobial Resistance surveillance System to record data on local antibiotic resistance(Manish Kakkar). This allows the government a better understanding, so when they proceed to policy making they are able to make policy tailored to their scenario.
Another strategy to combat resistance is to to do a full ban on AGPs (Antibiotic Growth Promoters) which some countries have done like India.(Cox, Louis A.)
Second Perspective: Increasing antibiotic resistance Is in part due to misuse of antibiotics by the farmers. However, increasing meat production and need for food security along with other factors demonstrates it's not just one reason why antimicrobial resistance is happening. Their are also a lot of people with vested interests especially the laborers and farmers who come into contact with animals constantly and are at the highest risk of infection.
Audience: Governmental Health organizations like FDA, and worldwide health organizations like WHO, Small lower income farmers. Context: AMR resistance occurs in the big factory farms for companies like Tyson. It also occurs commonly in small scale farms in low income countries which I didn't''t expect to be a problem considering when you think of excess you think of big companies. Constraints: Trying to add regulations to any industry is hard, considering that antibiotics do allow these farms to keep the animals healthy until they are ready for slaughter.
I know that overuse or excessive use of antibiotics can lead to antimicrobial resistance in bacteria, from my previous microbiology classes. What factors leads to the increasing usage of antibiotics in food agriculture?
One is the increase in amount of meat being produced around the world is on the rise, specifically in Africa, Asia, and South America. What concerns are there from antibiotics being used to often in meat production?
Antibiotic resistant bacteria will contaminate the meat and could easily infect someone(Schardt).
The use of human antibiotics like penicillin and erythromycin as antibiotics for food animals poses a significant risk. If meat producers are using antibiotics meant for human treatment and bacteria become resistant to the human antibiotics, we wont be able to use the normal antibiotic treatment(Schardt).
Antibiotics being labeled or marketed as growth promoters for animals instead of being for therapeutic use or disease treatment(Cox, Louis A.). Small scale farmers use as a growth promoter or as a preventative measures against disease instead of using it to treat an animal(Graham, Jay P.).
Considering i already understood how antibiotic resistance is caused. I thought it best to look into the reasons that contribute to the increased usage of antibiotics in farming to better understand whats contributing to the over usage of antibiotics.
My initial perspective is that antibiotic resistance in food animals is due to over and misuse of antibiotics which causes selective pressures to breed antibiotic resistant bacteria(Antimicrobial Resistance.). Also that it's a simple problem that can be remedy by discontinuing the use of certain antibiotics for periods of time.
Audience: Consumers of Food? Context: Farms where food animals like pigs are produced