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Antibiotic Resistance in Animal Health

During 2014 and 2015, the average total sales volume was close to 650 tons of antibiotics per year, representing a 28.4% decrease compared to 2011. A decrease in animal exposure to antibiotics was observed across all species compared to 2011 (cattle - 9.5%, pigs - 24.1%, poultry - 22.1%, rabbits - 17.8%, cats and dogs - 9.5%). Third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones are among the only alternatives for treating certain infectious diseases in humans. Based on 2013, the reference year in the Law on the Future of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, exposure to fluoroquinolones and latest-generation cephalosporins decreased by 22.3% and 21.3%, respectively.Regarding antibiotic resistance to critical antibiotics, a stabilizing trend was observed in 2015:

• the highest rate of resistance to third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins is around 6 to 7%. It is found in calves, dogs, cats, and equines. In other species, it is equal to or less than 3%, particularly in hens and chickens (2.5%), pigs (2.6%), adult cattle (2.4%), and turkeys (1.2%). A significant decrease is observed in chickens, in companion animals, and to a lesser extent in calves. For other species, the rate remains low and stable.

• The highest rate of fluoroquinolone resistance is found in cattle (22%), with a stabilization trend unlike in previous years. Conversely, equines, chickens, and turkeys are consistently the animal species with the lowest rates (5–7%)

A general downward trend in multidrug resistance (resistance to at least three families of antibiotics) has been observed in recent years for all species, except for cattle, for which it remained stable over the 2011–2015 period but increased between 2014 and 2015.The 2017 EcoAntibio national plan sets a target of reducing antibiotic use in France by 25% over five years. Regarding the control of high-risk practices in veterinary antibiotic therapy, ANSES recommends in particular:

• discontinuing the use of antibiotics for prophylaxis,

• reserving the use of latest-generation antibiotics (third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones) for specific situations that must be clearly identified in advance by sector and strictly regulated,

• prioritizing the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics, precisely targeting the bacteria in question.