
Global use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals rose by 2% from 2019 to 2021, according to a report published yesterday by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The increase comes after several years of declines.
The report, released at yesterday's meeting of the Global Leaders Group (GLG) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), includes data submitted to ANIMUSE (the global database on ANimal antiMicrobial USE) by 152 (84%) of WOAH's 182 members. The data come mainly from sales and import figures of antimicrobial agents.
Overall, animal antibiotic use rose from 107.3 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) in 2019 to 107.9 mg/kg in 2021. Tetracyclines were the most-used antimicrobial class, accounting for 35.6% of the total amount. Bovine species accounted for 41% of antimicrobial use, followed by swine (21%), poultry (18%), and aquatic species (9%).
While a decline was observed in the Americas (–9%), Europe (–6%), and Asia and the Pacific (–0.7%), Africa saw an increase of 179%, which the report attributes to an improvement in reporting accuracy by some African countries.
Use of antimicrobials for growth promotion still a problem
WOAH has been monitoring the use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals since 2015 as part of its efforts to limit the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Overuse of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals is considered one of the forces contributing to rising rates of AMR.
Notably, the report also showed that nearly 20% of WOAH member states reported using antimicrobials as growth promoters, a practice discouraged by WOAH and other global health agencies. Furthermore, 11% of member states reported using antimicrobials like colistin for growth promotion. Colistin is classified as one the highest priority, critically important antimicrobials for human medicine.
"I would like to call upon our Members to restrict their use of antimicrobials solely to those needed for veterinary medical purposes, and to actively work with all parties to achieve a total ban on the use of antimicrobials as growth promoters, starting with those that are critically important for human health," WOAH Director General Monique Eloit, DVM, said in a foreword to the report.