Monitoring of antibiotic sales in 2013: the lowest level of exposure since 1999
In 2013, the total volume of sales of antibiotics amounted to 699 tons. All animal species combined, the level of exposure of animals to antibiotics is for the first time lower than that of 1999, the year the surveillance plan was launched (-5.5%). Overall exposure in 2013 also decreased by 7.3% compared to 2012, and by 15.7% over the last five years.
This global evolution must be nuanced according to the species of destination and the families of molecules. Thus, between 2012 and 2013, exposure to antibiotics decreased by 6.6% for cattle, 5.4% for poultry, 4% for pigs and 1.7% for domestic carnivores. On the other hand, it increased by 3.6% for rabbits.
Over the last five years, exposure by the oral route has decreased by 24.3%, whereas an increase of 9.4% is observed for the injection route. This decrease in oral exposure is mainly linked to a decrease in the use of medicated premixes (-45.9% over 5 years and -15.4% in 2013 compared to 2012). These variations probably reflect a decrease in the use of antibiotics for prevention.
The exposure of animals to critical antibiotics (3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones) has stabilized in recent years. In 2013, all animal species combined, there was a significant drop in the use of cephalosporins (-9.8% compared to 2012) and a smaller drop in fluoroquinolones (-1.5%). However, the increases observed in certain animal species should be carefully monitored, particularly in domestic carnivores, dogs and cats in particular, for which exposure to cephalosporins increased by 25% between 2012 and 2013 and that to fluoroquinolones by 12, 2%.
Moreover, the decreases observed are greater in the animal sectors that have implemented specific actions. Thus, following the initiative of the pig industry to voluntarily restrict the use of the latest generation cephalosporins, the exposure of pigs to this family decreased by 66% between 2010 and 2013.
It should be recalled that ANSES, in its opinion published last June on the risks of emergence of antibiotic resistance linked to the methods of use of antibiotics, renews its recommendation to reserve the use of the latest generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones as a last resort, for specific situations which must be identified by sector and strictly supervised.
Antibiotic resistance: overall trend in resistance rates down since 2006
By collecting data on antibiograms of pathogenic bacteria of animal origin isolated from sick animals, the Résapath network makes it possible to monitor trends in the development of resistance to antibiotics in pathogenic bacteria in animals, to detect certain emergences and to characterize their molecular mechanisms.
The scope of the network further increased in 2013 (uninterrupted growth since 2005). Thus, 67 laboratories are members today (64 in 2012). It collected 33,428 antibiograms (31,211 in 2012) through increased companion animal coverage.
Decreases in resistance to critical antibiotics (3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones) are still to be highlighted this year. This trend is not the same in all sectors, nor for all antibiotics, but major positive results have nevertheless been obtained.
Finally, multiresistance is considered resistance to at least three families of antibiotics. It is common in E. coli, especially in cattle (23.4%), pigs (16.9%), horses and dogs (both 10.5%). On the other hand, the phenomenon is less marked in hens and chickens (6.2%) and in turkeys (3.4%).
New goals and ongoing initiatives to get more accurate data
In view of these various assessments, the Agency considers it necessary to have more precise data on the use of antibiotics by species and category of animal, a need that is regularly recalled at European level. In this sense, in its assessment of the risks of emergence of antibiotic resistance linked to the methods of use of antibiotics published in June, it recommends the establishment of long-term monitoring tools for practices as close as possible to the administration. antibiotics in farms. In addition, initiatives are underway to better estimate exposure to antibiotics by category of animal and physiological stage. The measures of the national plan to reduce the risks of antibiotic resistance in veterinary medicine, which provide for surveys by sector, will in the near future to have answers to better document the actual use in the sectors. As of this year, results have been obtained in the cattle and fish sectors and have been observed during the day.
The decrease in exposure to antibiotics observed in recent years, globally and by species, seems to confirm the positive impact of the various actions carried out in terms of the rational use of antibiotics. In two years, the reduction observed is 12.7%, so for the moment it is in line with the objective of the Ecoantibio 2017 plan to reduce by 25% in five years, even if efforts are still to be made to achieve this ambitious goal.