The UK government has published its Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2013-2018. Though the report calls for action in both human and animal medicine under the banner of 'One Health', and has been welcomed by industry groups, it falls short of calls to tackle overuse of antibiotics head on.  

The Strategy follows the UK Chief Medical Officer's report in March 2013 which highlighted the significant scale of the threat of antimicrobial resistance, and has been published jointly by Defra, the Department of Health, the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

The Strategy sets out three strategic aims and outlines seven key areas for future action:

1. Improving infection prevention and control practices

2. Optimising prescribing practice

3. Improving education, training and public engagement

4. Developing new drugs, treatments and diagnostics

5. Better access to and use of surveillance

6. Better identification and prioritisation of AMR research needs

7. Strengthened international collaboration

It also details specific actions to be taken by each sector.

Although the strategy states that evidence suggests issues of antimicrobial resistance affecting human medicine are primarily the result of antibiotic use in people, rather than their use in animals, it acknowledges that use in animals is an important factor contributing to the wider pool of resistance.

The science around antibiotic resistance is not clear cut.  A number of recent studies have linked certain types of livestock farming that rely heavily on the use of antibiotics with developing 'superbugs' and the potential link between antibiotic resistance and animal agriculture was discussed in Parliament last year.

Although a number of influential farming groups have called for a reduction in the prescription of antibiotics in both human medicine and agriculture, this is not explicitly mentioned within the strategy framework.

Nevertheless, BVA president Peter Jones welcomed the announcement. He said, "Antimicrobial resistance is indeed one of the most significant threats to animal and human health and we fully support the aims of the UK Strategy. BVA has long championed the need for the responsible use of these vital medicines and we will continue to engage with vets in all types of practice to ensure that this message is heard loud and clear."

Jones added, "In addition to measures to improve prescribing practices, we welcome the focus on surveillance, research needs, and development of new drugs. As the Strategy acknowledges, the development pipeline for new antibiotics is at an all-time low, which is very true of the animal health sector as well, and so we welcome measures to investigate how to manage this trend."

BVA said that the government strategy outlines action already being taken within the veterinary profession, including drawing up detailed guidelines and posters on responsible use of antimicrobials in animals. It pointed out that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has introduced a Code of Professional Conduct for vets to use antimicrobials responsibly.

However, despite the initial steps being taken by veterinary organisations and their industry partners, a great many in farm groups and government still believe that in the fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs – a threat which is still growing – too much is at stake to risk inaction or reliance on moratory strategies.

Speaking in Parliament last year, following a debate on antibiotics in animal agriculture and resistant bacteria, Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith warned that, "If we continue to ignore the risks [posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria] for fear of upsetting vested interests, we will be complicit in robbing future generations of one of the greatest discoveries of our species."