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423200.9928Alternatives to antibiotics for treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. Mastitis is considered the costliest disease on dairy farms and also adversely affects animal welfare. As treatment (and to a lesser extent prevention) of mastitis rely heavily on antibiotics, there are increasing concerns in veterinary and human medicine regarding development of antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, with genes conferring resistance being capable of transfer to heterologous strains, reducing resistance in strains of animal origin should have positive impacts on humans. This article briefly reviews potential roles of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), herbal medicines, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), bacteriophages and their lytic enzymes, vaccination and other emerging therapies for prevention and treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. Although many of these approaches currently lack proven therapeutic efficacy, at least some may gradually replace antibiotics, especially as drug-resistant bacteria are proliferating globally.202337404775
671010.9927Potential of the livestock industry environment as a reservoir for spreading antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is a global issue requiring serious attention and management. The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in livestock for growth promotion, disease prevention, and treatment has led to the dissemination of AMR bacteria and resistance genes into the environment. In addition, unethical antibiotic sales without prescriptions, poor sanitation, and improper disposal cause significant amounts of antibiotics used in livestock to enter the environment, causing the emergence of resistant bacteria. Intensive livestock farming is an important source of AMR genes, environmental bacteria contamination, and possible transfer to human pathogens. Bacteria intrinsically antibiotic resistant, which are independent of antibiotic use, further complicate AMR and increase the risk of morbidity and mortality following infections by AMR bacteria. Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus spp. are commonly found in livestock that carry resistance genes and have a risk of human infection. The impact of AMR, if left unchecked, could lead to substantial public health burdens globally, with a predicted mortality rate higher than cancer by 2050. "One Health" integrates strategies across human, animal, and environmental health domains, including improving antibiotic stewardship in livestock, preventing infection, and raising awareness regarding the judicious use of antibiotics. The use of antibiotic alternatives, such as prebiotics, probiotics, bacteriophages, bacteriocins, and vaccinations, to control or prevent infections in livestock will help to avoid over-reliance on antibiotics. Coordinated international actions are needed to mitigate the spread of AMR through improved regulations, technology improvements, and awareness campaigns.202540201833
660820.9927Trends in antimicrobial resistance in Malaysia. INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance is a burgeoning problem worldwide. The trend of bacterial resistance has increased over the past decade in which more common bacteria are becoming resistant to almost all the antibiotics currently in use, posing a threat to humans and even livestock. METHODS: The databases used to search for the relevant articles for this review include PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus. The following keywords were used in the search: Antimicrobial resistance, Malaysian action plan, antibioticresistant bacteria, and Malaysian National Surveillance on Antimicrobial Resistance (NSAR). The relevant articles published in English were considered. RESULTS: The antibiotic-resistant bacteria highlighted in this review showed an increase in resistance patterns to the majority of the antibiotics tested. The Malaysian government has come up with an action plan to create public awareness and to educate them regarding the health implications of antibiotic resistance. CONCLUSION: Antimicrobial resistance in Malaysia continues to escalate and is attributed to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in various fields. As this crisis impacts the health of both humans and animals, therefore a joined continuous effort from all sectors is warranted to reduce the spread and minimize its development.202134508377
669030.9926Antimicrobial resistance situation in animal health of Bangladesh. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a crucial multifactorial and complex global problem and Bangladesh poses a regional and global threat with a high degree of antibiotic resistance. Although the routine application of antimicrobials in the livestock industry has largely contributed to the health and productivity, it correspondingly plays a significant role in the evolution of different pathogenic bacterial strains having multidrug resistance (MDR) properties. Bangladesh is implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) for containing AMR in human, animal, and environment sectors through "One Health" approach where the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) is the mandated body to implement NAP strategies in the animal health sector of the country. This review presents a "snapshot" of the predisposing factors, and current situations of AMR along with the weakness and strength of DLS to contain the problem in animal farming practices in Bangladesh. In the present review, resistance monitoring data and risk assessment identified several direct and/or indirect predisposing factors to be potentially associated with AMR development in the animal health sector of Bangladesh. The predisposing factors are inadequate veterinary healthcare, monitoring and regulatory services, intervention of excessive informal animal health service providers, and farmers' knowledge gap on drugs, and AMR which have resulted in the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, ultimate in the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes in all types of animal farming settings of Bangladesh. MDR bacteria with extreme resistance against antibiotics recommended to use in both animals and humans have been reported and been being a potential public health hazard in Bangladesh. Execution of extensive AMR surveillance in veterinary practices and awareness-building programs for stakeholders along with the strengthening of the capacity of DLS are recommended for effective containment of AMR emergence and dissemination in the animal health sector of Bangladesh.202033487990
665040.9926 Antibiotic resistance is never going to go away. No matter how many drugs we throw at it, no matter how much money and resources are sacrificed to wage a war on resistance, it will always prevail. Humans are forced to coexist with the fact of antibiotic resistance. Public health officials, clinicians, and scientists must find effective ways to cope with antibiotic resistant bacteria harmful to humans and animals and to control the development of new types of resistance. The American Academy of Microbiology convened a colloquium October 12–14, 2008, to discuss antibiotic resistance and the factors that influence the development and spread of resistance. Participants, whose areas of expertise included medicine, microbiology, and public health, made specific recommendations for needed research, policy development, a surveillance network, and treatment guidelines. Antibiotic resistance issues specific to the developing world were discussed and recommendations for improvements were made. Each antibiotic is injurious only to a certain segment of the microbial world, so for a given antibacterial there are some species of bacteria that are susceptible and others not. Bacterial species insusceptible to a particular drug are “naturally resistant.” Species that were once sensitive but eventually became resistant to it are said to have “acquired resistance.” It is important to note that “acquired resistance” affects a subset of strains in the entire species; that is why the prevalence of “acquired resistance” in a species is different according to location. Antibiotic resistance, the acquired ability of a pathogen to withstand an antibiotic that kills off its sensitive counterparts, originally arises from random mutations in existing genes or from intact genes that already serve a similar purpose. Exposure to antibiotics and other antimicrobial products, whether in the human body, in animals, or the environment, applies selective pressure that encourages resistance to emerge favoring both “naturally resistant” strains and strains which have “acquired resistance.” Horizontal gene transfer, in which genetic information is passed between microbes, allows resistance determinants to spread within harmless environmental or commensal microorganisms and pathogens, thus creating a reservoir of resistance. Resistance is also spread by the replication of microbes that carry resistance genes, a process that produces genetically identical (or clonal) progeny. Rapid diagnostic methods and surveillance are some of the most valuable tools in preventing the spread of resistance. Access to more rapid diagnostic tests that could determine the causative agent and antibiotic susceptibility of infections would inform better decision making with respect to antibiotic use, help slow the selection of resistant strains in clinical settings, and enable better disease surveillance. A rigorous surveillance network to track the evolution and spread of resistance is also needed and would probably result in significant savings in healthcare. Developing countries face unique challenges when it comes to antibiotic resistance; chief among them may be the wide availability of antibiotics without a prescription and also counterfeit products of dubious quality. Lack of adequate hygiene, poor water quality, and failure to manage human waste also top the list. Recommendations for addressing the problems of widespread resistance in the developing world include: proposals for training and infrastructure capacity building; surveillance programs; greater access to susceptibility testing; government controls on import, manufacture and use; development and use of vaccines; and incentives for pharmaceutical companies to supply drugs to these countries. Controlling antibiotic resistant bacteria and subsequent infections more efficiently necessitates the prudent and responsible use of antibiotics. It is mandatory to prevent the needless use of antibiotics (e.g., viral infections; unnecessary prolonged treatment) and to improve the rapid prescription of appropriate antibiotics to a patient. Delayed or inadequate prescriptions reduce the efficacy of treatment and favor the spread of the infection. Prudent use also applies to veterinary medicine. For example, antibiotics used as “growth promoters” have been banned in Europe and are subject to review in some other countries. There are proven techniques for limiting the spread of resistance, including hand hygiene, but more rapid screening techniques are needed in order to effectively track and prevent spread in clinical settings. The spread of antibiotic resistance on farms and in veterinary hospitals may also be significant and should not be neglected. Research is needed to pursue alternative approaches, including vaccines, antisense therapy, public health initiatives, and others. The important messages about antibiotic resistance are not getting across from scientists and infectious diseases specialists to prescribers, stakeholders, including the public, healthcare providers, and public officials. Innovative and effective communication initiatives are needed, as are carefully tailored messages for each of the stakeholder groups.200932644325
981050.9926Drug-resistant bacteria in the critically ill: patterns and mechanisms of resistance and potential remedies. Antimicrobial resistance in the intensive care unit is an ongoing global healthcare concern associated with high mortality and morbidity rates and high healthcare costs. Select groups of bacterial pathogens express different mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance. Clinicians face challenges in managing patients with multidrug-resistant bacteria in the form of a limited pool of available antibiotics, slow and potentially inaccurate conventional diagnostic microbial modalities, mimicry of non-infective conditions with infective syndromes, and the confounding of the clinical picture of organ dysfunction associated with sepsis with postoperative surgical complications such as hemorrhage and fluid shifts. Potential remedies for antimicrobial resistance include specific surveillance, adequate and systematic antibiotic stewardship, use of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic techniques of therapy, and antimicrobial monitoring and adequate employment of infection control policies. Novel techniques of combating antimicrobial resistance include the use of aerosolized antibiotics for lung infections, the restoration of gut microflora using fecal transplantation, and orally administered probiotics. Newer antibiotics are urgently needed as part of the armamentarium against multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this review we discuss mechanisms and patterns of microbial resistance in a select group of drug-resistant bacteria, and preventive and remedial measures for combating antibiotic resistance in the critically ill.202339816646
818260.9925Antibiotics in Food Chain: The Consequences for Antibiotic Resistance. Antibiotics have been used as essential therapeutics for nearly 100 years and, increasingly, as a preventive agent in the agricultural and animal industry. Continuous use and misuse of antibiotics have provoked the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria that progressively increased mortality from multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, thereby posing a tremendous threat to public health. The goal of our review is to advance the understanding of mechanisms of dissemination and the development of antibiotic resistance genes in the context of nutrition and related clinical, agricultural, veterinary, and environmental settings. We conclude with an overview of alternative strategies, including probiotics, essential oils, vaccines, and antibodies, as primary or adjunct preventive antimicrobial measures or therapies against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. The solution for antibiotic resistance will require comprehensive and incessant efforts of policymakers in agriculture along with the development of alternative therapeutics by experts in diverse fields of microbiology, biochemistry, clinical research, genetic, and computational engineering.202033066005
667370.9925A brief multi-disciplinary review on antimicrobial resistance in medicine and its linkage to the global environmental microbiota. The discovery and introduction of antimicrobial agents to clinical medicine was one of the greatest medical triumphs of the 20th century that revolutionized the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the gradual emergence of populations of antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria resulting from use, misuse, and abuse of antimicrobials has today become a major global health concern. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes have been suggested to originate from environmental bacteria, as clinically relevant resistance genes have been detected on the chromosome of environmental bacteria. As only a few new antimicrobials have been developed in the last decade, the further evolution of resistance poses a serious threat to public health. Urgent measures are required not only to minimize the use of antimicrobials for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes but also to look for alternative strategies for the control of bacterial infections. This review examines the global picture of antimicrobial resistance, factors that favor its spread, strategies, and limitations for its control and the need for continuous training of all stake-holders i.e., medical, veterinary, public health, and other relevant professionals as well as human consumers, in the appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs.201323675371
667280.9925Antibiotic resistance in bacteria - an emerging public health problem. The discovery and eventual introduction of anti-microbial agents to clinical medicine was one of the greatest medical triumphs of the twentieth century that revolutionized the treatment of bacterial diseases. However, the gradual emergence of populations of antibiotic-resistant bacteria resulting from use, misuse and outright abuse of antibiotics has today become a major public health problem of global proportions. This review paper examines the origins and molecular epidemiology of resistance genes, global picture of antibacterial resistance, factors that favour its spread, strategies for its control, problems of control and the consequences of failure to contain antibiotic resistance in bacteria.200327528961
664990.9925 The development of antibiotics has provided much success against infectious diseases in animals and humans. But the intensive and extensive use of antibiotics over the years has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens. The existence of a reservoir(s) of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in an interactive environment of animals, plants, and humans provides the opportunity for further transfer and dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has created growing concern about its impact on animal and human health. To specifically address the impact of antibiotic resistance resulting from the use of antibiotics in agriculture, the American Academy of Microbiology convened a colloquium, “Antibiotic Resistance and the Role of Antimicrobials in Agriculture: A Critical Scientific Assessment,” in Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 2–4, 2001. Colloquium participants included academic, industrial, and government researchers with a wide range of expertise, including veterinary medicine, microbiology, food science, pharmacology, and ecology. These scientists were asked to provide their expert opinions on the current status of antibiotic usage and antibiotic resistance, current research information, and provide recommendations for future research needs. The research areas to be addressed were roughly categorized under the following areas: ▪ Origins and reservoirs of resistance; ▪ Transfer of resistance; ▪ Overcoming/modulating resistance by altering usage; and ▪ Interrupting transfer of resistance. The consensus of colloquium participants was that the evaluation of antibiotic usage and its impact were complex and subject to much speculation and polarization. Part of the complexity stems from the diverse array of animals and production practices for food animal production. The overwhelming consensus was that any use of antibiotics creates the possibility for the development of antibiotic resistance, and that there already exist pools of antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Much discussion revolved around the measurement of antibiotic usage, the measurement of antibiotic resistance, and the ability to evaluate the impact of various types of usage (animal, human) on overall antibiotic resistance. Additionally, many participants identified commensal bacteria as having a possible role in the continuance of antibiotic resistance as reservoirs. Participants agreed that many of the research questions could not be answered completely because of their complexity and the need for better technologies. The concept of the “smoking gun” to indicate that a specific animal source was important in the emergence of certain antibiotic resistant pathogens was discussed, and it was agreed that ascribing ultimate responsibility is likely to be impossible. There was agreement that expanded and more improved surveillance would add to current knowledge. Science-based risk assessments would provide better direction in the future. As far as preventive or intervention activities, colloquium participants reiterated the need for judicious/prudent use guidelines. Yet they also emphasized the need for better dissemination and incorporation by end-users. It is essential that there are studies to measure the impact of educational efforts on antibiotic usage. Other recommendations included alternatives to antibiotics, such as commonly mentioned vaccines and probiotics. There also was an emphasis on management or production practices that might decrease the need for antibiotics. Participants also stressed the need to train new researchers and to interest students in postdoctoral work, through training grants, periodic workshops, and comprehensive conferences. This would provide the expertise needed to address these difficult issues in the future. Finally, the participants noted that scientific societies and professional organizations should play a pivotal role in providing technical advice, distilling and disseminating information to scientists, media, and consumers, and in increasing the visibility and funding for these important issues. The overall conclusion is that antibiotic resistance remains a complex issue with no simple answers. This reinforces the messages from other meetings. The recommendations from this colloquium provide some insightful directions for future research and action.200232687288
4334100.9924Association between the consumption of antimicrobial agents in animal husbandry and the occurrence of resistant bacteria among food animals. Antimicrobial agents are used in food animals for therapy and prophylaxis of bacterial infections and in feed to promote growth. The use of antimicrobial agents for food animals may cause problems in the therapy of infections by selecting for resistance among bacteria pathogenic for animals or humans. The emergence of resistant bacteria and resistance genes following the use of antimicrobial agents is relatively well documented and it seems evident that all antimicrobial agents will select for resistance. However, current knowledge regarding the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in food animals, the quantitative impact of the use of different antimicrobial agents on selection for resistance and the most appropriate treatment regimens to limit the development of resistance is incomplete. Surveillance programmes monitoring the occurrence and development of resistance and consumption of antimicrobial agents are urgently needed, as is research into the most appropriate ways to use antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine to limit the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.199910493603
6666110.9924Antibiotic residues in poultry products and bacterial resistance: A review in developing countries. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global concern, particularly in poultry farming, where antibiotics are widely used for both disease prevention and growth promotion. This review examines the misuse of antibiotics in poultry production, especially in developing countries, and its contribution to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The findings highlight that factors such as increasing demand for poultry protein, the availability of inexpensive antibiotics, and weak regulatory oversight have led to widespread misuse, accelerating the spread of resistance genes. Although evidence links poultry farming to AMR, significant data gaps remain, especially regarding resistance transmission from poultry to humans. The review underscores the urgent need for stronger regulatory frameworks, phased-out use of antimicrobial growth promoters, and enhanced awareness campaigns to address this issue. Improving the capacity of regulatory bodies and developing more robust national data monitoring systems are essential steps to mitigate the threat of AMR in poultry farming and to protect both animal and human health.202439551017
6657120.9924From Cure to Crisis: Understanding the Evolution of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Human Microbiota. The growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria within the human microbiome has become a pressing global health crisis. While antibiotics have revolutionized medicine by significantly reducing mortality and enabling advanced medical interventions, their misuse and overuse have led to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. Key resistance mechanisms include genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer, and biofilm formation, with the human microbiota acting as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Industrialization and environmental factors have exacerbated this issue, contributing to a rise in infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. These resistant pathogens compromise the effectiveness of essential treatments like surgical prophylaxis and chemotherapy, increase healthcare costs, and prolong hospital stays. This crisis highlights the need for a global One-Health approach, particularly in regions with weak regulatory frameworks. Innovative strategies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, offer promising avenues for mitigating resistance. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated efforts, encompassing research, policymaking, public education, and antibiotic stewardship, to safeguard current antibiotics and foster the development of new therapeutic solutions. An integrated, multidimensional strategy is essential to tackle this escalating problem and ensure the sustainability of effective antimicrobial treatments.202539858487
6616130.9924The menace of colistin resistance across globe: Obstacles and opportunities in curbing its spread. Colistin-resistance in bacteria is a big concern for public health, since it is a last resort antibiotic to treat infectious diseases of multidrug resistant and carbapenem resistant Gram-negative pathogens in clinical settings. The emergence of colistin resistance in aquaculture and poultry settings has escalated the risks associated with colistin resistance in environment as well. The staggering number of reports pertaining to the rise of colistin resistance in bacteria from clinical and non-clinical settings is disconcerting. The co-existence of colistin resistant genes with other antibiotic resistant genes introduces new challenges in combatting antimicrobial resistance. Some countries have banned the manufacture, sale and distribution of colistin and its formulations for food producing animals. However, to tackle the issue of antimicrobial resistance, a one health approach initiative, inclusive of human, animal, and environmental health needs to be developed. Herein, we review the recent reports in colistin resistance in bacteria of clinical and non-clinical settings, deliberating on the new findings obtained regarding the development of colistin resistance. This review also discusses the initiatives implemented globally in mitigating colistin resistance, their strength and weakness.202336812837
4207140.9924Biosecurity Practices to Enhance Responsible Antimicrobial Use and Reduce the Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance. The article shows the case for using biosecurity measures to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in beef and dairy production through actions of veterinarians and animal caretakers. The impact of biosecurity on the prevention of bacterial infections is discussed, with the goal being to reduce the need for antimicrobial drugs. This is expected to reduce the selection for AMR in pathogens and commensal bacterial organisms in beef and dairy animals. The potential impact of biosecurity on the prevention of dissemination of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and AMR genes in the environment is also described.202539550313
3754150.9924Cancer departments as a source of resistant bacteria and fungi? Antimicrobial resistance increases worldwide. Among many factors, such as clonal spread of genes of resistance among and intra species, local epidemiology, nosocomial transmission, also consumption of antimicrobials may be responsible. Cancer departments, mainly in centers treating hematologic malignancies and organizing bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are known to have extensive consumption of either prophylactically or therapeutically administered antibiotics and antifungals. It is worthy to remember, that first strains of quinolone resistant E. coli, vancomycin resistant enterococci and staphylococci and fluconazol-resistant Candida albicans appeared in the patients treated for cancer with antineoplastic chemotherapy, resulting in profound granulocytopenia. Therefore, assessment of risks of antibiotic prophylaxis with quinolones and azoles and extensive use of empiric therapy with glycopeptides and polyenes needs to be considered. Intensive prophylactic strategies should be limited to group of high risk, leukemic patients or BMT recipients.199910355526
6661160.9924Country Income Is Only One of the Tiles: The Global Journey of Antimicrobial Resistance among Humans, Animals, and Environment. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most complex global health challenges today: decades of overuse and misuse in human medicine, animal health, agriculture, and dispersion into the environment have produced the dire consequence of infections to become progressively untreatable. Infection control and prevention (IPC) procedures, the reduction of overuse, and the misuse of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine are the cornerstones required to prevent the spreading of resistant bacteria. Purified drinking water and strongly improved sanitation even in remote areas would prevent the pollution from inadequate treatment of industrial, residential, and farm waste, as all these situations are expanding the resistome in the environment. The One Health concept addresses the interconnected relationships between human, animal, and environmental health as a whole: several countries and international agencies have now included a One Health Approach within their action plans to address AMR. Improved antimicrobial usage, coupled with regulation and policy, as well as integrated surveillance, infection control and prevention, along with antimicrobial stewardship, sanitation, and animal husbandry should all be integrated parts of any new action plan targeted to tackle AMR on the Earth. Since AMR is found in bacteria from humans, animals, and in the environment, we briefly summarize herein the current concepts of One Health as a global challenge to enable the continued use of antibiotics.202032752276
9794170.9924Antibiotic resistance in developing countries. During the past decade there have been major changes in the susceptibility of bacteria that cause various infections. Resistance to anti-infective agents, including antibiotics, is worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. Almost all bacterial species can develop resistance to anti-infective agents and resistance can readily be transferred among bacteria by transmissible elements (plasmids). Measures to prevent the emergence of resistance must be implemented urgently. A multiplicity of factors drive antibiotic resistance and solutions require the collaboration of governmental agencies, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers and consumers. Knowledge of resistance patterns and of the ways by which resistance is overcome is vital to the future of antimicrobial chemotherapy.200111434528
6662180.9924One Health strategies in combating antimicrobial resistance: a Southeast Asian perspective. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multifactorial global public health concern that is interlinked with the health of humans, animals, and the environment. Therapeutically important antibiotics used widely in the mass medication of livestock have contributed significantly to AMR, as they eventually enter the environment due to inadequate treatment of wastewater. Similarly, improper discharge of antibiotic-contaminated waste by the medical sector exacerbates the problem by contributing to the increase in the selection of resistant bacteria and the horizontal transfer of resistance genes. Developed and developing countries and regions worldwide acknowledged that no discipline or sector of society can successfully address climate change, known and emerging infectious diseases, and AMR by acting in isolation. Countries in Southeast Asia, like elsewhere in the world, have also adopted a transdisciplinary and multi-sectoral collaboration integrating human, animal, and environmental health, known as the One Health strategy.202540476586
6644190.9923Altered egos: antibiotic effects on food animal microbiomes. The human food chain begins with upwards of 1,000 species of bacteria that inhabit the intestinal tracts of poultry and livestock. These intestinal denizens are responsible for the health and safety of a major protein source for humans. The use of antibiotics to treat animal diseases was followed by the surprising discovery that antibiotics enhanced food animal growth, and both led to six decades of antibiotic use that has shaped food animal management practices. Perhaps the greatest impact of antibiotic feeding in food animals has been as a selective force in the evolution of their intestinal bacteria, particularly by increasing the prevalence and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes. Future antibiotic use will likely be limited to prudent applications in both human and veterinary medicine. Improved knowledge of antibiotic effects, particularly of growth-promoting antibiotics, will help overcome the challenges of managing animal health and food safety.201425002091