Perspective on the Role of Farm Animals in the Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance from a One Health Approach

Dear Colleagues,

The utilization of antibiotics significantly contributes to the development of public health issues related to antibiotic resistance. While antibiotic usage is prevalent mainly in agricultural environments, there has been limited focus on the impact of antibiotic use in farm animals on the broader issue of antibiotic resistance.

Livestock production is of paramount significance in the European agricultural sector. Achieving optimal outcomes mainly relies on using safe and high-quality feed. Allowing unrestricted transportation of safe and high-quality food and feed is a fundamental element of the internal market and greatly enhances the health and welfare of consumers.

The emergence of antibiotic resistance is not just a concern but an imminent public health emergency that demands our immediate attention and action. The urgency of this issue cannot be overstated, and we must act swiftly and decisively to address it.

Although formerly thought to be limited to hospitals and other healthcare institutions, some community elements are recognized as significant contributors to antibiotic resistance. Consequently, community-associated resistant strains have been identified as the root cause of numerous hospital-acquired diseases. Biological resistance is an intrinsic outcome of antibiotic exposure due to natural selection. The phenomenon of drug resistance has been documented after the introduction of each novel category of antibiotics, and a sluggish process of drug development and insufficient allocation of resources toward the identification and advancement of potential antibiotic agents exacerbates the peril.

Various antibiotic stewardship initiatives have been established at the international, national, and local levels to promote the cautious use of antibiotics and reduce avoidable exposure to them. The primary objective is to maintain their efficacy in treating severe and life-threatening illnesses. Clinicians must, in practice, reconcile the practical aim of preserving the efficacy of antibiotics with ethical responsibilities towards patients who have diseases that are unlikely to be adversely affected and may benefit from antibiotic use. This ethical dimension of antibiotic use should remind us of the weight of our decisions and the need for careful consideration in this area.

This Special Issue aims to examine the scope and nature of antibiotic use in food animals and summarize its potential impact on human health, highlighting the spread of antibiotic resistance. This Special Issue explicitly examines three key areas: (1) the utilization of antibiotics in livestock, (2) the presence of antibiotic resistance and residues in food products, and (3) the consequences of antibiotic resistance and the consumption of food containing antibiotic residues on the health of consumers.

In this Special Issue, original articles and reviewers are welcome. Research areas may include the following:

• Antibiotic use in livestock;
• Antibiotic residues in food—a public health threat;
• Use of medically necessary antimicrobials in food-producing animals;
• The use of antibiotics on healthy farm animals;
• Overuse of antibiotics in farm animals, a by-product of poor animal welfare;
• Global trends in antimicrobial use in food animals;
• Antibiotic use in food animals worldwide.

We look forward to receiving your contribution.

Prof. Dr. Romeo Teodor Cristina
Dr. Degi Janos
Guest Editors

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• antimicrobials use
• farm animals
• antimicrobial resistance
• one health
• antimicrobials
• food safety
• public health