Antibiotic Resistance is a Global Threat

According to Megin Nichols, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, enteric zoonoses activity lead at the CDC, antibiotic resistance is a One Health issue.

“Antibiotic resistance is a global health threat, and all countries have a role to play when it comes to prevention of antibiotic resistance. And that's why the United States, especially the Centers for Disease Control, has partnered with a variety of different organizations, including the American Veterinarian Medical Association, to work on policies and other items that impact judicious use and stewardship of antimicrobials. And we recognize that this impact is far ranging across the globe, and the importance of really interacting and engaging with others, in order to address this in a One Health, or more holistic fashion.

One of the things that we recognized at CDC is that sometimes we may have a resistant bug or germ that arises in one area of the world, and because we are so mobile—and this is not only humans but animals as well— we may see that resistant germ or bug come to the United States.

So, by working with our partners and other countries to try and prevent the emergence and development of the resistance across the board in all countries, we're also preventing some of that resistance from emerging in the United States. And that can really go towards helping the health of people and animals.”