Prime Minister David Cameron has launched a review into antimicrobial resistance and the shortfall in fresh products to replace those becoming less affected, and address the threat, which has been described as "equal to that posed by climate change".

The review will look into why so few antimicrobial drugs have been introduced in recent years. Vets have called for the review to be extend to animal health issues.

The announcement was welcomed by the British Veterinary Association on Wednesday, though BVA President Peter Jones commented, "Antibiotics are vital medicines for both human and animal health and we are working hard to safeguard their use for the future, but it is clear that we must also find ways to develop new antibiotics in veterinary medicine.

"The development pipeline for new antibiotics in both human and animal health is at an all-time low and so we welcome measures to investigate how to manage this trend."

Addressing Vets in Cardiff earlier this week, BVA President Robin Hargreaves reiterated the importance of using antimicrobials responsibly. He said, "One of the greatest challenges to both animal and human health is the threat of antibiotic resistance, which has the potential to become a global catastrophe.

"To ensure healthy animals in the future we must ensure we safeguard veterinary medicines. And so across the country we continue to take a lead in raising awareness about the need to use these vital medicines responsibly.

"But we mustn’t simply pay lip service to the problem. BVA asks all veterinary surgeons to look at themselves to make sure that they are each playing their part and doing the right things."