ABSTRACT
The spread of antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest global threats to public health, which puts many of the gains of modern medicine at risk. Scientists estimate that the deaths of 1.27 million people a year are attributable to antibiotic resistance, and 4.95 million deaths a year are associated with antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic use in human medicine is the main cause of resistance in most human infections. However, the overuse of antibiotics in farming also contributes significantly and is clearly linked to the emergence of resistance to the last-resort antibiotic colistin, to new livestock-associated strains of the superbugs methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile and to resistance in food-poisoning bacteria. Efforts are being made to reduce farm antibiotic use. The European Union, but not the UK, has banned routine use and prophylactic group treatments. Unfortunately, farm antibiotic use remains far too high as animals are still raised in very large numbers indoors, in unhygienic, stressful conditions where they are prone to developing disease. Radical improvements to animal husbandry, including a move away from intensive livestock farming systems, are needed in order to give priority to animal health and welfare, and to achieve more responsible and sustainable farm antibiotic use.
