Antibiotic resistance: causes, consequences, ways to overcome
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31210/spi2025.28.04.25Keywords:
antibiotics, resistance, global health, companion animals, global monitoring, hospital-acquired infectionsAbstract
The aim of the review was to systematize and analyze current scientific data on the causes of antibiotic resistance formation in veterinary medicine, its epizootiological and clinical consequences, as well as to identify the main directions for the prevention and control of the spread of resistant microorganisms in veterinary therapeutic practice. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance represents a significant global public health threat. At present, several major causes of resistance development can be identified. Among them, the leading role is played by the excessive and unjustified use of antimicrobial agents in medicine and their application in various sectors of animal husbandry, as well as the frequent prescription of antibiotics without appropriate indications, which significantly contributes to the formation of microbial resistance. Approximately 50 % of antimicrobial prescriptions in practice are considered unjustified or “prophylactic.” Additional factors contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance include self-medication, the lack of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, incorrect dosing, and premature discontinuation of treatment courses. In particular, when clinical symptoms subside, animal owners often discontinue therapy on their own initiative, which promotes the survival and spread of resistant bacterial strains. Non-compliance with hygiene and sanitary control measures is another important factor facilitating the dissemination of resistant microorganisms. As a result of natural bacterial adaptation mechanisms, a reduction or complete loss of the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents occurs. Factors that stimulate mutational processes include the use of subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics, the lack of pathogen susceptibility to the selected drug, and the presence of antimicrobial residues in food products. Modification of protein targets and the transfer of resistance genes between bacteria via plasmids or bacteriophages may also accelerate the development of antibiotic resistance. The predicted consequences for global health include the loss of microbial susceptibility to last-line antibiotics, such as carbapenems, vancomycin, and colistin, which necessitates the development of new antimicrobial agents and the implementation of strict control over their rational use.
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