Antimicrobial resistance in animals and impacts on food safety and public health

Abstract

Few issues in applied microbiology excite as much debate as the threatened transfer of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from animals to cause disease in humans. Yet, almost four decades after the first warning of the potential risk to human health from the use of antimicrobials in agriculture 1, and after a plethora of national and international reports with similar conclusions, broad agreement is lacking on key elements of scientific fact, responsibilities and interventions. This article briefly considers some areas of concern and misunderstanding in the debate about public health impacts from the use of antimicrobials in animals. What is clear is that progress requires viewing the problem from the context of ?the whole system? rather than from the narrow confines of specific disciplines, professional groups, institutions, or commercial interests.