Comprehensive and effective sanitary strategies: Key to changing the course of AMR
The key lies in balance; no extreme is good. Why are we discussing this? Because the misuse and excessive use of antimicrobials to treat humans, animals, and plants has led us to what is now known as a “silent pandemic,” which is classified among the top 10 global health threats to humanity.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is, by definition, the intrinsic or acquired ability of various microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi to evade the action of antimicrobials. This has dangerous consequences as diseases become harder to treat, not only for economic reasons—since treatments become more expensive—but also because they become more prolonged and do not always achieve the desired outcome.
While antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently a topic of widespread discussion regarding humans, it is estimated that by the year 2050, AMR could lead to 10 million deaths annually. It is also important to consider its impact on animal health and how this affects the whole system.
Veterinary perspective
From a veterinary perspective, antibiotics are essential for controlling and treating diseases that can affect animal health, including zoonoses (diseases transmitted from animals to humans), and they are also crucial for obtaining safe food. The best way to reduce this resistance in animals is to implement sanitary strategies designed by veterinary professionals that prioritise surveillance, early and accurate diagnosis, and, above all, prevention through the use of high-quality and effective vaccines.
At Biogénesis Bagó, we have a large and qualified technical service team dedicated to preventing animals from contracting any diseases by promoting good practices, with special attention to biosecurity measures and encouraging efficient diagnostics to ensure appropriate medication is prescribed. This awareness-raising effort also aims to discourage making health decisions without the guidance of a veterinarian, as medication without professional supervision is a shortcut that can make pathogens stronger.
Beyond boundaries and borders
AMR is a phenomenon that does not recognise boundaries or borders and requires an approach based on the “One Health” concept because it is impossible to think of health in isolation among living beings: we share land, water, resources, and pathogens as well. In fact, approximately 60% of the pathogens that cause diseases in humans originate from animals, which means that by caring for the health of animals and the environment, we are also protecting our health as human beings.
Each of us has an essential role in slowing down and halting the processes that increase AMR, and having preventive health plans is a key tool to achieve this. If diseases are neither diagnosed nor prevented and are simply treated with medication, it can lead to the excessive and incorrect administration of products, or their underutilisation. Both extremes are undesirable, and the risks involved are very high.
