Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Centre for Advanced Research Excellence in Public Health, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
PLoS One. 2022 Nov 15;17(11):e0275856. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275856. eCollection 2022.
Inappropriate and injudicious use of antimicrobials in broiler and layer farms has become a common practice in lower and middle-income countries including Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess poultry farmers' knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding antimicrobial usage (AMU), and their beliefs in factors that affect antimicrobial resistance (AMR) spread and emergence in humans through commercial poultry farms in Bangladesh.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 204 farmers (95.6% male; meanage = 35.14 ± 10.25 years) in the Rajshahi district of Bangladesh who were recruited from three upazilas (sub-districts) through a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from June to November 2021 via face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire.
The proportion of farmers who reported having received information regarding AMU from veterinarians was higher in layer compared to broiler farms (65.9% vs. 44.9%, p < 0.001). A higher proportion of layer compared to broiler farmers believed that antimicrobial residues and pathogens in poultry can pass to humans through the consumption of contaminated eggs (28.1% vs. 5.8%, p < 0.05). The mean score of the farmers' attitude towards addressing AMU was 4.49 (SD = 1.37) out of 7, with the higher score indicating a better attitude. The mean score of better attitudes towards addressing AMU was significantly higher among educated participants (bachelor's or higher levels of education (p = 0.006). A higher proportion of layer (56.3%) farmers did not keep a record of AMU when compared to broiler farmers (37.7%) (p = 0.012). More broiler (50.7%) compared to layer (38.5%) farmers continued using the full dose of antimicrobials (p = 0.042). The most frequently used antimicrobials in broiler and layer poultry farms were Colistin (broiler vs layer: 73.9% vs. 86.75%; p = 0.024), and Ciprofloxacin (broiler vs. layer: 95.7% vs. 84.4%; p = 0.021). Farmers' beliefs were significantly associated with the spread of AMR pathogens from contaminated eggs to humans (p < 0.001).
The findings reflected that majority of farmers had inadequate knowledge of AMU, less knowledgeable beliefs aboutAMU, and inappropriate AMU (e.g., poor record keeping, incomplete doses) in chicken production systems. The government should ensure education or advisory services for poultry farmers on proper AMU, enforce current veterinary laws and regulations on antimicrobials, and implement AMU surveillance systems.
在孟加拉国等中低收入国家，肉鸡和蛋鸡养殖场不合理和不恰当使用抗菌药物已成为一种常见做法。本研究旨在评估孟加拉国商业家禽养殖场中家禽养殖者对抗菌药物使用（AMU）的知识、态度和实践，以及他们对抗生素耐药性（AMR）在人类中传播和出现的看法，这些看法受到商业家禽养殖场的影响。
采用横断面研究方法，于 2021 年 6 月至 11 月期间在孟加拉国拉杰沙希区通过多阶段抽样技术从三个分区（sub-districts）中招募了 204 名农民（95.6%为男性；平均年龄 = 35.14 ± 10.25 岁）。通过半结构式问卷，通过面对面访谈收集数据。
与肉鸡农场相比，报告从兽医那里获得有关 AMU 信息的蛋鸡农场比例更高（65.9%比 44.9%，p < 0.001）。与肉鸡农场相比，更多的蛋鸡农场认为禽肉中的抗菌药物残留和病原体可以通过食用受污染的鸡蛋传播给人类（28.1%比 5.8%，p < 0.05）。农民对解决 AMU 的态度平均得分为 7 分中的 4.49（SD = 1.37），得分越高表示态度越好。受教育程度较高的参与者（本科或以上学历）解决 AMU 的态度较好的平均得分明显更高（p = 0.006）。与肉鸡农场（37.7%）相比，记录 AMU 的蛋鸡农场比例更高（56.3%）（p = 0.012）。与蛋鸡农场（38.5%）相比，更多的肉鸡农场（50.7%）继续使用全剂量的抗菌药物（p = 0.042）。在肉鸡和蛋鸡养殖场中使用最频繁的抗菌药物是多粘菌素（肉鸡比蛋鸡：73.9%比 86.75%；p = 0.024）和环丙沙星（肉鸡比蛋鸡：95.7%比 84.4%；p = 0.021）。农民的信念与受污染鸡蛋中 AMR 病原体向人类传播有显著关联（p < 0.001）。
研究结果反映出，大多数农民对抗菌药物使用的知识不足，对抗菌药物使用的了解程度较低，且在鸡的生产系统中使用抗菌药物的方式不恰当（例如，记录不完善，剂量不完整）。政府应确保为家禽养殖者提供有关适当使用抗菌药物的教育或咨询服务，执行有关抗菌药物的现行兽医法律法规，并实施抗菌药物使用监测系统。
