EC publishes guidelines on prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine

The European Commission (EC) published guidelines for the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, aimed to prevent the overuse and misuse of antibiotics by sharing best-practices in EU member states, according to a press release by the EC Friday.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) develops when microorganisms no longer respond to drugs they were previously sensitive to, and it causes 25,000 deaths annually and over 1.5 billion euros (1.69 billion U.S. dollars) in healthcare expenses and productivity losses in Europe alone.

These latest guidelines were one of the key deliverables in the EU action plan on AMR. They provide member states authorities, farmers and veterinarians with practical examples of what is being done in other EU countries to promote the prudent use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine.

The Commission believes such measures can contribute to the control of AMR also in human medicine, as antimicrobials are essential in combating infectious diseases and AMR is a serious threat both for human and animal health.

Since AMR can be transferred from animals to humans and vice-versa via direct and indirect contact, a "One Health" approach based on collaboration and joined-up thinking of both human and veterinary medicine sectors is essential to tackle this issue at the EU and global level, said the press release. Endit