One Health: preserving antimicrobials for the health of people, animals and the environment

Antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics play an important role in treating infections and diseases in humans, animals and plants. But their misuse and overuse leads to antimicrobial resistance, a major threat to our health.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial agents. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. To ensure these life-saving medicines work for present and future generations, we must apply the One Health approach.

This means sharing responsibility and working together to find solutions to reduce the need for antimicrobials by:

• Strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities and on farms .
• Prescribing antimicrobials only when needed and ensuring good antimicrobial stewardship across sectors
• Ensuring access to vaccines, clean water, sanitation and hygiene for everyone.
• Implementing best practices to reduce the need for antimicrobials in food and agricultural production In a world where the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems is interconnected, we need more coordinated cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

By working together and applying a One Health approach we can prevent, detect and control diseases and antimicrobial resistance that threaten the health of people, animals and the environment.