POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology)
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Reducing UK Antibiotic Use in Animals
This POSTnote discusses the current use of antibiotics in animals and the options available for reducing that use.
Antibiotics are widely used to treat infectious disease in animals and humans. A recent government review of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) recommended reducing antibiotic use in agriculture. This POSTnote discusses the current use of antibiotics in animals and the options available for reducing that use.
Key points in the POSTnote iclude:
- Concerns over the spread of AMR have seen moves to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics in both animals and humans
- Antibiotic use in agriculture varies from sector (pigs, poultry, dairy etc.) to another and depends on the prevalence of endemic disease
- The use of antibiotics in agriculture has sginificantly declined in recent years, but further reductions will be needed to meet targets for 2020
- Approaches to reducing antibiotic use in animals include better animal husbandry, improved housing, better herd/flock management, vaccination and disease eradication
- Enacting change involves managing the expectations that people who use vets (clients such as farmers or pet owners) have of being prescribed antibiotics when their animals are ill.
POSTnotes are based on litereature reviews and inerviews with a range of stakeholders and are externally peer reviewed. POST would like to thank interviewees and peer reviewers for kindly giving up their time during the preparation of this briefing including:
Rhiannon Wilson, Policy Bristol for organising the meeting with the DIALS consortium
Dr Robert Atterbury, University of Nottingham
Prof Michael Bailey, University of Bristol
John Fishwick, Royal Veterinary College
Professer David Barrett, University of Bristol
Liz Bowles and Kate Still, The Soil Association
Donal Murphy, NOAH
Chris Brown, SfAM
Dr Coll Hutchison, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Dr Kristen Reyher, University of Bristol
Prof Sharon Peacock, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Georgina Crayford, RUMA Alliance
Sarah Golding, University of Surrey
Alison Bard, University of Bristol
Amanda Carson, Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Prof Henry Buller, University of Exeter
Dr Jon Cuccui, London School of Hygiene and tropical Medicine
Dr Katherine Adam, University of Edinburgh
Professor the Lord Trees
Richard Lloyd, Innovation for Agriculture
Sconaid Wastie, RSPCA
Dr Lindsay Evans, Imperial College London
Dr Andrew Edwards, Imperial College London
Jon Massey, University of Bristol
Dr Matthew Avison, University of Bristol
Dr Ginny Gould, University of Bristol
Hannah Schubert, University of Bristol
Dr Ray Chan, University of Exeter
Coilin Nuna, Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics
Susanna Williams, Animal and Plant Health Agency
Original article link: https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-0588
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