Crossover-use of human antibiotics in livestock in agricultural communities: a qualitative cross-country comparison between Uganda, Tanzania and India

Myers, J. et al. (2022) Crossover-use of human antibiotics in livestock in agricultural communities: a qualitative cross-country comparison between Uganda, Tanzania and India. Antibiotics, 11(10), 1342. (doi: 10.3390/antibiotics11101342) (PMID:36290000) (PMCID:PMC9598773)

Abstract

Antibiotic use in animal agriculture contributes significantly to antibiotic use globally and is a key driver of the rising threat of antibiotic resistance. It is becoming increasingly important to better understand antibiotic use in livestock in low-and-middle income countries where antibiotic use is predicted to increase considerably as a consequence of the growing demand for animal-derived products. Antibiotic crossover-use refers to the practice of using antibiotic formulations licensed for humans in animals and vice versa. This practice has the potential to cause adverse drug reactions and contribute to the development and spread of antibiotic resistance between humans and animals. We performed secondary data analysis of in-depth interview and focus-group discussion transcripts from independent studies investigating antibiotic use in agricultural communities in Uganda, Tanzania and India to understand the practice of antibiotic crossover-use by medicine-providers and livestock-keepers in these settings. Thematic analysis was conducted to explore driving factors of reported antibiotic crossover-use in the three countries. Similarities were found between countries regarding both the accounts of antibiotic crossover-use and its drivers. In all three countries, chickens and goats were treated with human antibiotics, and among the total range of human antibiotics reported, amoxicillin, tetracycline and penicillin were stated as used in animals in all three countries. The key themes identified to be driving crossover-use were: (1) medicine-providers’ and livestock-keepers’ perceptions of the effectiveness and safety of antibiotics, (2) livestock-keepers’ sources of information, (3) differences in availability of human and veterinary services and antibiotics, (4) economic incentives and pressures. Antibiotic crossover-use occurs in low-intensity production agricultural settings in geographically distinct low-and-middle income countries, influenced by a similar set of interconnected contextual drivers. Improving accessibility and affordability of veterinary medicines to both livestock-keepers and medicine-providers is required alongside interventions to address understanding of the differences between human and animal antibiotics, and potential dangers of antibiotic crossover-use in order to reduce the practice. A One Health approach to studying antibiotic use is necessary to understand the implications of antibiotic accessibility and use in one sector upon antibiotic use in other sectors.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), grant number EP/T02500X/1. The APC was funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lembo, Dr Tiziana and Davis, Dr Alicia and MMBAGA, Professor Blandina Theoph
• Authors: Myers, J., Hennessey, M., Arnold, J.-C., McCubbin, K. D., Lembo, T., Mateus, A., Kitutu, F. E., Samanta, I., Hutchinson, E., Davis, A., Mmbaga, B. T., Nasuwa, F., Gautham, M., and Clarke, S. E.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Antibiotics
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2079-6382
• ISSN (Online): 2079-6382
• Published Online: 30 September 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Antibiotics 11(10): 1342
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License