Antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine: Mechanisms, regulation and control strategies

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents amajor global threat toboth human and animal health. Within the One Health framework, farm and wild animals serve ascritical reservoirs ofresistant bacteria and resistance genes, which can disseminate through food, water, and the environment. The excessive and inappropriate use ofantibiotics inveterinary medicine exerts selection pressure that fosters the emergence and spread ofantimicrobial resistance. Current mitigation strategies aim toreduce antibiotic consumption and promote prudent use through hygiene measures, vaccination, individualised therapy, pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) dosing optimisation, and comprehensive AMR monitoring. European legislation (EU Regulations 2019/4 and 2019/6) provides stringent guidelines onantibiotic prescription, usage, and residue limits. Inthis context, antibiotic combination therapy represents apromising approach toenhance antimicrobial efficacy, broaden the antibacterial spectrum, and suppress the emergence ofresistance bytargeting multiple bacterial pathways simultaneously. Inaddition todeveloping new drugs, renewed focus onreviving older antimicrobial molecules– supported by updated PK/PD data and optimised dosing – could provide an effective alternative in combating multidrug-resistant pathogens.