Our health is all connected: Combatting AMR through One Health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical threat to global health, affecting human, animal, and environmental sectors. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in healthcare, agriculture, and other areas have led to the rise of resistant bacteria, complicating treatments and endangering global health. These resistant strains jeopardize longstanding medical interventions, posing significant risks across all health sectors1.

 

The One Health approach

The One Health approach, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other global organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), emphasizes a holistic perspective. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and involves coordinated action across various disciplines to tackle AMR effectively.

The global, cross-sector threat of AMR

AMR in humans

 

The growing prevalence of AMR in humans is driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, as well as cross-species interactions. Inappropriate prescriptions, self-medication, and non-adherence to treatment regimens exacerbate the issue, as noted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)2. However, AMR in humans is not solely a result of medical practices - it is deeply intertwined with human-animal interactions.

 

A notable case reported by One Health Trust involved a 12-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy who developed life-threatening pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), transmitted from her pet dogs3. This case highlights the potential for pets to be sources of resistant infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals. One Health Trust emphasizes the necessity of a One Health perspective to control the emergence and spread of AMR effectively3.

AMR in animals

 

In veterinary and agricultural sectors, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock and companion animals significantly contribute to AMR, as described by the World Organisation for Animal Health4. Antibiotics are often administered not just to treat infections, but in some regions also to promote growth or prevent disease in agriculture, leading to the emergence of resistant strains. These strains can spread to humans through consumption, direct contact, or environmental pathways5.

 

The presence of resistant bacteria in animals complicates the treatment of zoonotic diseases in both humans and animals, such as Salmonella, which can jump between species and pose severe public health challenges6. Judicious antibiotic use in veterinary care is critical to breaking this cycle and mitigating its impact on human and environmental health.

AMR in the environment

 

The environment serves as a hidden pathway for AMR, with antibiotics and resistant bacteria entering through several involuntary channels such as wastewater, agricultural runoff, and wildlife exposure7. Urban wildlife, like city-dwelling birds, have been found to carry resistant strains of bacteria, acting as vectors for spreading resistance across ecological boundaries8.

 

Urbanization increases contact between humans and wild animals, disrupting the environment's natural order and presenting new opportunities for zoonotic disease spread. The environmental dimension of AMR presents unique challenges, as resistant bacteria in soil, water, and wildlife are difficult to track and control, perpetuating the threat across human and animal populations.

The One Health solution: Key strategies in tackling AMR*

  1. Antibiotic stewardship and collaboration: Programs to promote appropriate antibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine are crucial. Collaboration among healthcare providers, veterinarians, and policymakers ensures tailored stewardship initiatives that reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

  2. Surveillance and monitoring systems: Integrated surveillance networks track AMR spread and identify emerging hotspots. Data sharing between sectors helps understand AMR dynamics and design targeted interventions.

  3. Education and capacity-building initiatives: Public awareness campaigns and specialized training programs empower communities and professionals to implement best practices. Collaboration among researchers, industry leaders, and government agencies drives innovation in managing AMR.

Conclusion

AMR is a global crisis affecting all aspects of health. The One Health approach offers a comprehensive framework to address this challenge by recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. 

 

With testing solutions like the Thermo Scientific antimicrobial susceptibility testing portfolio, including the Thermo Scientific Sensititre System and Thermo Scientific Oxoid AST Discs, as well as a variety of culture media options including chromogenic media, we can support experts to take action on all fronts of human, animal and environmental health, to confront AMR effectively and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for all. 

 

View the white paper

Learn more by downloading the full Our health is all connected: Combatting AMR through One Health white paper.

References

 

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). Global report on antimicrobial resistance: 2019. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240062702
  2. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). (n.d.). Antimicrobial resistance: Facts for the general public. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.  https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/antimicrobial-resistance/facts/factsheets/general-public
  3. Antimicrobial Resistance, Our Pets, and Us, One Health Trust (2023): https://onehealthtrust.org/news-media/blog/antimicrobial-resistance-our-pets-and-us/ 
  4. World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). (n.d.). Antimicrobial resistance. World Organisation for Animal Health.  https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/global-initiatives/antimicrobial-resistance/#:~:text=Using%20an%20antibiotic%20to%20treat,cause%20more%20harm%20than%20good
  5. Graham D, et al. (2019) Complexities in understanding antimicrobial resistance across domesticated animal, human, and environmental systems. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 17-30. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14036
  6. de Mesquita Souza Saraiva, M., Lim, K., do Monte, D.F.M. et al. Antimicrobial resistance in the globalized food chain: a One Health perspective applied to the poultry industry. Braz J Microbiol 53, 465–486 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42770-021-00635-8
  7. Samreen, Iqbal Ahmad, Hesham A. Malak, Hussein H. Abulreesh, Environmental antimicrobial resistance and its drivers: a potential threat to public health, Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, Volume 27, 2021, Pages 101-111, ISSN 2213-7165, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2021.08.001
  8. City birds found to be carriers of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, University of Oxford (2024): https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2024-08-14-city-birds-found-be-carriers-antimicrobial-resistant-bacteria 
  9. World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Antimicrobial resistance: Fact sheet. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance

Featured solutions

Detect, presumptively identify and screen samples for pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms with speed and accuracy using our wide range of chromogenic media.

Optimize antimicrobial selection to support targeted treatment and AMR surveillance with the power of definitive minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results.

Perform simple, flexible manual AST with the ease of disc diffusion, as well as the latest antimicrobials in a full range of concentrations, for maximum reproducibility.

Ensure reproducible test results with quality control material that you can trust.