WHO guidelines on use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals
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World Health Organization
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70 p.
The WHO guidelines on use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals present evidence-based recommendations to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance associated with antimicrobial use in food-producing animals. Developed in support of the WHO global action plan on antimicrobial resistance and following the WHO guideline development process and GRADE methodology, the guidelines aim to preserve the effectiveness of medically important antimicrobials, particularly those classified as critically important for human medicine. They recommend an overall reduction in the use of these antimicrobials, complete restriction of their use for growth promotion and for prevention of infectious diseases in the absence of clinical diagnosis, and conditional restrictions on the use of critically important antimicrobials for disease control and treatment. The document also provides two best practice statements regarding new antimicrobial classes and medically important antimicrobials not currently used in food production. Recognizing the need for a One Health approach, the guidelines emphasize implementation alongside strengthened animal health management, disease prevention, surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistance, and laboratory capacity. They are intended for universal application while acknowledging that low- and middle-income countries may require additional implementation support, and indicate that the recommendations should be reviewed and updated as new evidence becomes available.
The WHO guidelines on use of medically important antimicrobials in food-producing animals present evidence-based recommendations to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance associated with antimicrobial use in food-producing animals. Developed in support of the WHO global action plan on antimicrobial resistance and following the WHO guideline development process and GRADE methodology, the guidelines aim to preserve the effectiveness of medically important antimicrobials, particularly those classified as critically important for human medicine. They recommend an overall reduction in the use of these antimicrobials, complete restriction of their use for growth promotion and for prevention of infectious diseases in the absence of clinical diagnosis, and conditional restrictions on the use of critically important antimicrobials for disease control and treatment. The document also provides two best practice statements regarding new antimicrobial classes and medically important antimicrobials not currently used in food production. Recognizing the need for a One Health approach, the guidelines emphasize implementation alongside strengthened animal health management, disease prevention, surveillance of antimicrobial use and resistance, and laboratory capacity. They are intended for universal application while acknowledging that low- and middle-income countries may require additional implementation support, and indicate that the recommendations should be reviewed and updated as new evidence becomes available.