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Home > Controlling Antimicrobial Resistance - Our Call to the Media

Controlling Antimicrobial Resistance - Our Call to the Media [1]

Antimicrobials are invaluable health care tools that have substantially improved the well-being and quality of life for humans and animals around the world. Unfortunately, we may not have access to them much longer. When antimicrobials such as penicillin are used to fight bacterial infections, the bacteria develop a resistance with time and repeated exposure rendering treatment ineffective. This harsh reality of these life-saving medications affects everyone who depends on them—and in one way or another, we all depend on them.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) [2] has been recognized as a significant threat to international health and security by veterinarians, governments, and livestock producers alike, but fixing the problem is harder than finding it. Controlling antimicrobial resistance and preserving our access to these necessary medications requires the cooperation of all industries and all individuals.

Tighter regulations on production, distribution, and usage are slowly working their way into effect, but regulations are not enough. That’s why the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) [3] has undertaken a public awareness campaign to educate its members, animal owners and the general public about the global issue of AMR and what their roles are in the fight.

Antimicrobial resistance is an issue of One Health [4], meaning its effects are damaging to humans, animals, and the environment and it will take consideration from every angle to effectively control. Some types of bacterial infections differ between pets, people, and farm animals, but the impact of antimicrobial resistance is felt by all.

Imagine a situation where a serious bacterial infection affecting a large portion of the cattle population became resistant to the available antibiotic treatments. Not only would cattle suffer and die, but their owners would lose their livestock and source of income. This would negatively impact the industry along the entire production chain with significant financial loss at all stages. In addition, the reduction in cattle production could make beef, expensive, or even unavailable to the consumer. No matter where your interests lie, protecting the effetiveness of antimicrobials is in your best interest.

The campaign for public awareness is already underway and will be running until the end of March. We request that you help us to raise awareness on this vital issue and look into our informational resources on the Alberta Animal Health Source. For interviews and appearances pertaining to this issue, please contact Dr. Duane Landals, Senior Advisor to the ABVMA. Along with many years of experience running a successful mixed veterinary practice, Dr. Landals has served as Registrar of the ABVMA , President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association [5] and Vice-president of the World Veterinary Association [6].

 Take the Test [7]

For questions from the media, please contact Dr. Duane Landals, DVM.

AttachmentSize
PDF icon controlling_antimicrobial_resistance_-_fact_sheet.pdf [8]220.94 KB
PDF icon amr_campaign_poster.pdf [9]1.91 MB
Section: 
Livestock [10]
Pets [11]
Horses [12]
Category: 
Antimicrobial Usage [13]
Topics: 
Antimicrobial Resistance [14]
Tags: 
antimicrobial resistance [15]
pet owners [16]
livestock [17]

Links
[1] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/content/controlling-antimicrobial-resistance-our-call-media [2] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/content/what-antimicrobial-resistance-and-how-does-it-occur [3] http://www.abvma.ca [4] http://www.onehealthinitiative.com/ [5] http://www.canadianveterinarians.net/ [6] http://www.worldvet.org/ [7] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/content/antimicrobial-timebomb-take-test [8] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/controlling_antimicrobial_resistance_-_fact_sheet.pdf [9] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/amr_campaign_poster.pdf [10] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/section/livestock [11] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/section/pets [12] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/section/horses [13] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/category/antimicrobial-usage [14] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/topic/antimicrobial-resistance [15] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/article-tags/antimicrobial-resistance [16] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/article-tags/pet-owners [17] https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/article-tags/livestock

Published on Alberta Animal Health Source (https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca)
Source URL (modified on 8 Oct 2018 - 9:46pm):https://albertaanimalhealthsource.ca/content/controlling-antimicrobial-resistance-our-call-media

The Alberta Animal Health Source is an online resource for pet owners, equine enthusiasts, and livestock producers in Alberta and around the world. Commissioned by the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA), our goal is to offer veterinarian-approved information and advice to animal owners in order to empower them in providing their animals with the healthiest and happiest lives possible. We’re always adding new articles and materials, so be sure to check back regularly for all the latest news in animal care.

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