One Health and the fight against antimicrobial resistance in Italy

The onslaught of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is of global concern for human and animal health, as well as the environment.

Similar to human medicine, antimicrobials are often used in agriculture to treat or prevent infections, and the high use and misuse of antibiotics can lead to resistant infections among animals. Because livestock finds its way to people’s dinner table, this creates a risk that resistant bacteria can be passed on to humans.

As the development and spread of AMR in humans and animals often intersect, a multisectoral approach – “One Health” – in which the human and animal health sectors work closely together is required to tackle AMR.

How would a One Health approach to fighting AMR work? For an answer to this question, one can look to Italy.