Consumers at risk over antibiotics abuse in farming

…as FG cautions farmers In April 2019, a United Nations’ Interagency coordinating group on antimicrobial resistance ad hoc committee released a landmark report calling for urgent, harmonized and determined action to prevent looming drug-resistance crisis from all countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said “drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 […]

• …as FG cautions farmers

In April 2019, a United Nations’ Interagency coordinating group on antimicrobial resistance ad hoc committee released a landmark report calling for urgent, harmonized and determined action to prevent looming drug-resistance crisis from all countries.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said “drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and damage to the economy as catastrophic as the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. By 2030, antimicrobial resistance could force up to 24 million people into extreme poverty.”

Hajiya  Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General who co-chaired the IACG, said the international community is facing one of the greatest threats in history, adding “there is no time to wait and I urge all stakeholders to act on its recommendations and work urgently to protect our people and planet and secure a sustainable future for all.”

As part of Nigeria’s response to the UN call on AMR, the Epidemiology Division, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said it is stepping up campaign against antibiotics misuse and abuse among farmers in the country.

Dr Peter Umanah, CVO/Epidemiology Division, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services of the ministry, said it was necessary to heighten the campaign because the abuse is common in livestock production.

Antimicrobials are drugs used for the treatment of infections caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites in animals and humans. They include antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and antiparasitic.

Antibiotics are drugs used to treat bacterial infections like Salmonella that causes typhoid fever; antifungals are for fungal infections and so on.

The veterinary officer said Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when disease causative agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc., change over time and no longer respond to the action of antimicrobials to which they were hitherto susceptible, thus making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

AMR is considered one of the most important threats to public health globally.

Dr Umanah described the causes of antimicrobial resistance as all forms of inappropriate use of antimicrobials that promote the development of resistance by micro-organisms in humans, animals, crops and the environment.

This can be in the form of Misuse – when it is not needed, such as treating viral infections with antibiotics, use as growth promoters in food animals (livestock, poultry and aquaculture), overuse of antibiotics, underuse – underdosing, non-completion of treatment, and environmental contamination from improper disposal of expired drugs and chemicals.

Factors that determine resistant pathogens

Some of the factors that determine resistant pathogens, according to the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, include poor-quality medicinal products containing low amounts of active ingredients in circulation. It also encourages the emergence of resistant organisms.

Use of antibiotics as growth promoters and egg boosters by livestock farmers leading to exposure of pathogenic microbes to low grade and sub-threshold levels of antimicrobial residues and development of resistance which can be transmitted to humans and the environment and easy access to antibiotics without prescription.

Dr Umanah also mentioned another factor as lack of observance of the withdrawal period in food animals. Slaughter of animals and sale of animal products after treatment with drugs without observing withdrawal periods as well as administration of drugs to birds awaiting sale in live bird markets also enhance the development of resistance by leaving some antimicrobial residues in animal products such as meat, milk and eggs.

Others include poor infection prevention and control in health-care facilities, veterinary clinics and inadequate biosecurity on farms and absence of regulatory legislation and lack of enforcement of legislation when available.

Why is Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) a problem?

AMR threatens our ability to effectively treat common infectious diseases in humans and animals leading to prolonged illness and an increase in deaths.

It projected that by 2050, AMR could account for up to 10 million deaths annually, an increase from about 700,000 deaths today. Of the 10 million deaths, it estimated that 40% or 4 million of the deaths would occur in Africa by 2050

We are not developing new drugs to cope with increasing resistance to existing ones. Antibiotics’ research and development (R&D) has been insufficient in the last 20 years due to significant scientific, regulatory and economic hurdles.

The consequences of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) include infections becoming difficult to treat in humans and animals thereby increasing morbidity and mortality leading to loss of livelihoods, increased cost of production, threatened food security and food safety as well as impact negatively on the national economy among others.

Ways to stop Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture in their information paper suggested what we must do to stop Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR):

“Farmers must ensure responsible and prudent use of antimicrobials. This includes implementing practical measures and recommendations aimed at the improvement of animal health and animal welfare while preventing or reducing the selection, emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

“Give priority to good animal husbandry, biosecurity, vaccinations and good hygiene practices so as to maintain animal health; as much as possible use alternatives to antibiotics such as probiotics as guided by your veterinary doctor.

“Only use antimicrobials when prescribed by a veterinarian (or other suitably trained person authorized to prescribe veterinary drugs).

“Other ways include: do not use antimicrobials as growth promoters, follow the exact dosing instructions given by the veterinarian, observe the length of treatment as prescribed – even if the animal seems to have recovered, observe recommended withdrawal period for food animals, only obtain antimicrobials from authorized sources that can ensure the quality of the products and not every infection needs to be treated with antimicrobials.

“Animal owners should develop a health plan for their animals with their veterinarian or an animal health professional to protect them from infection and keep adequate written records of all antimicrobials used and of laboratory results.