Description

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most important challenges in medicine nowadays. It is estimated that 700,000 people died due to antimicrobial resistant bacteria in 2014, and it could increase up to 10 million by 2050, with an economic cost of trillions of dollars. Livestock and animal origin foods can play a pivotal role in the transmission and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. The use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock, together with the automation of the production systems and the improvement in the animal feeding, has facilitated the increase of intensive husbandry. However, the use of antimicrobial drugs in animals is double that in humans; and represents 79% of antimicrobial drug use in the USA. This is provoking the emergence of microorganisms with multiple antimicrobial resistances, generating a serious concern in public health.

The aim of this Research Topic is to gather contributions from scientists working in diverse disciplines who have common interests in antimicrobial resistance, and particularly in the role of the food chain in its emergence and dissemination among humans through zoonotic microorganisms. Articles can be original research, techniques, or reviews. An overarching goal is to demonstrate the role of food chain in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance, and foster understanding between different scientific communities to instigate a “One Health” approach for an integral tackling of this major public health issue.

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