Essential veterinary education on the development of antimicrobial and antiparasitic resistance: consequences for animal health and food safety and the need for vigilance.
The role played by the veterinary profession in protecting animal and public health, along with food safety, is unique. Thus, it is important that veterinarians have the necessary knowledge to be pro-active in responding to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Many current veterinary educational programmes do not attempt to enhance the understanding of undergraduate students of this complex situation. As a first step, a modern veterinary education programme should provide students with a holistic view of the ecology of resistance and clearly describe how antimicrobial resistance emerges. Understanding the relationships between drug use, natural selection and antimicrobial-resistant organisms, as well as gene mobilisation and recombination, and how these contribute to the emergence of resistant organisms are important facets of a modern veterinary education.
Herd & Veterinary Public Health Section, Centres for Food Safety and Food-borne Zoonomics, UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. sfanning@ucd.ie
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Fanning
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Whyte
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O'Mahony
D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004351:Drug Resistance; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000941:ethics; D004520:Education, Veterinary; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D021261:Parasitic Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents