OIE Annual Report on Antimicrobial Agents Intended for Use in Animals: Methods Used

Abstract

For over two decades, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has engaged in combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a One Health approach. Monitoring of antimicrobial use (AMU) is an important source of information that together with surveillance of AMR can be used for the assessment and management of risks related to AMR. In the framework of the Global Action Plan on AMR, the OIE has built a global database on antimicrobial agents intended for use in animals, supported by the Tripartite (World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and OIE) collaboration. The OIE launched its first annual data collection in 2015 and published the Report in 2016. The second Report, published in 2017, introduced a new methodology to report quantitative data in the context of relevant animal populations, and included for the first time an annual analysis of antimicrobial quantities adjusted for animal biomass on a global and regional level. A continuing annual increase of countries participating in the data collection demonstrates the countries engagement for the global development of monitoring and surveillance systems in line with OIE international standards. Where countries are not yet able to contribute their quantitative data, their reports also highlight the barriers that impede them in data collection, analysis and/or reporting. The OIE Reports show annual global and regional estimates of antimicrobial agents intended for use in animals adjusted for animal biomass, as represented by the quantitative data reported by countries to the OIE. The OIE advises caution in interpretation of estimates made in the first few years of reporting recognizing some important limitations faced by countries as they develop their monitoring systems. The OIE remains strongly committed to supporting its Members in developing robust and transparent measurement and reporting mechanisms for AMU.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance (AMR); antimicrobial use (AMU); methods/methodology; monitoring; report; surveillance.