Thumbnail Image

White paper: Antimicrobial resistance in the animal sector in India

Year of publication 2024

Place of publication New Delhi, India ;

Pages 32 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Booklet

Synopsis (short abstract) The phenomenon in which bacteria do not respond to antibiotics, when given in accordance with standard treatment guidelines, is called antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It leads to prolonged treatment, longer infectivity of the patient, use of additional and expensive investigations and potentially toxic drugs, and huge economic cost to the patient, society, and the country. AMR has been developing rapidly against even newly discovered antibiotics. The bacteria are versatile and ingenious in developing a plethora of defence mechanisms against antibiotics. Many bacterial species have accumulated resistance to multiple drugs. These are known as multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms and in layman language as “superbugs”. The spectrum and reach of MDR pathogens have been rapidly increasing. AMR in animal pathogens makes disease treatments ineffective, increases the severity of the disease, reduces productivity and leads to economic losses. In addition, more than half the quantity of antimicrobials used in animals/fish is excreted as waste contaminating soil, water and the environment. This also contributes to the emergence and spread of AMR through selection pressure on microorganisms in the environment. Besides, antimicrobial usage can lead to antimicrobials residues in the edible animal/fish products which are a public health risk.

Last updated date 12/06/2024, see Corrigendum 

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2024. White paper: Antimicrobial resistance in the animal sector in India. New Delhi.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc9535en

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    Surveillance data of the Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR)
    An analytical report 2019–2022
    2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now recognized as a major global public health problem which has been aggravated by the irrational use of antimicrobial agents in human and animal health as well as the presence of these agents in the environment. AMR in animal pathogens makes disease treatments ineffective, increases the severity of the disease, reduces productivity and leads to economic losses. In addition, more than half the quantity of antimicrobials used in animals/fish is excreted as waste contaminating soil, water and the environment. This also contributes to the emergence and spread of AMR through selection pressure on microorganisms in the environment. Besides, antimicrobial usage (AMU) can lead to presence of antimicrobial residues in edible animal/fish products which could become a public health risk. Understanding the dynamics of AMR and its surveillance can only be done through quality laboratory services.Laboratory-based surveillance is an integral part of Objective 2 of the National Action Plan of India (2017–2021), which was developed in alignment with the Global Action Plan for AMR.The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), with technical assistance from FAO, has established a network of its institutions, the Indian Network for Fishery and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR), to generate nationally representative surveillance data on AMR.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Tackling antimicrobial resistance in food and agriculture 2024
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads the global response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food and agriculture sectors. Its work in response to the many challenges of AMR is currently guided by the FAO Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021–2025. This first report on FAO’s contribution to the global response to AMR outlines a wide range of activities undertaken by FAO at global, regional and country level. This report: • describes FAO’s role in the global governance of AMR; • provides an overview of progress on implementing national action plans on AMR in agrifood systems; • highlights key activities undertaken to implement the FAO Action Plan on AMR 2021–2025; and • flags key challenges and opportunities related to AMR in the food and agriculture sectors. The AMR response in the food and agriculture sectors requires more and better evidence, more informed, more widespread interventions to reduce the threat of AMR, greater resources, stronger capacity and more robust governance to ensure effective stakeholder engagement and sustained commitment and action based on the One Health approach to reduce AMU, particularly at country level.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Meeting
    Concept note for the Preliminary consultation on monitoring antimicrobial resistance in animal bacterial pathogens of diseased livestock and poultry
    Workshop on Development of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Surveillance Guideline #2 (Livestock Pathogens). 28-29 August 2018; Bangkok, Thailand
    2018
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial organisms does not recognize biological, physical, or sectoral boundaries. Its potential transmission pathways include broad areas of disciplines that are often traditionally segregated. The collective and coordinated actions across these multiple disciplines can leverage on the strengthened sectoral accountability towards AMR mitigation. This ensures that the efforts of nations to address this global issue will benefit from the respective expertise of each sector, and that actions are also well-sustained by their respective mandates.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.