Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.
Prev Vet Med. 2024 Sep;230:106287. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106287. Epub 2024 Jul 18.
Limiting the use of antimicrobial agents in intensive livestock production is a challenge due to different perceptions between the short-term benefits of antimicrobial use (AMU) by livestock producers and the long-term social costs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its impact on human, animal, and environmental health. Pig farmers are key stakeholders supporting Thailand's national strategic plan on AMR which aims to reduce antimicrobial consumption in the livestock sector. Consequently, this study explored the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and practices of pig farmers towards AMU and AMR, expecting to provide information that would help guide policymakers in the development of a proper interventional program for antimicrobial stewardship. The qualitative approach utilized individual, face-to-face, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the 20 owners of middle- and large-scale pig farms in eastern Thailand. The major themes identified in this finding were: (1) the use of antimicrobials on farms and the knowledge of antimicrobials; (2) AMU on pig farms (the purpose of AMU, antimicrobial prescription practices, and performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing); (3) attitudes towards prescribing practices and record keeping; (4) farm animal husbandry practices and AMU; (5) factors influencing AMU; and (6) awareness regarding AMR. Most of the pig farm owners recognized that achieving Good Agricultural Practices certification required following the legislation and regulations for AMU. Other observations were that the respondents had positive attitudes towards prescribing practices, performing antimicrobial susceptibility testing before antimicrobial therapy, and recording drug use on farms; however, there was low awareness of AMR. In addition, alternative substances, such as medicinal plants, and proper biosecurity practices were mentioned. Factors influencing AMU on pig farms were intensive enforcement of legislation and regulations, the implementation of farm management practices, the provision of information and consultancy services by veterinary professionals, farmer experience, and consumer trends.
在集约化畜牧业生产中限制抗菌药物的使用是一个挑战，因为畜牧业生产者对使用抗菌药物（AMU）的短期利益和抗菌药物耐药性（AMR）的长期社会成本及其对人类、动物和环境健康的影响有着不同的看法。养猪户是支持泰国国家抗药性战略计划的主要利益相关者之一，该计划旨在减少畜牧业部门的抗菌药物消耗。因此，本研究探讨了养猪户对 AMU 和 AMR 的知识、看法、态度和做法，期望提供有助于指导政策制定者制定适当的抗菌药物管理干预计划的信息。本研究采用了定性方法，对泰国东部 20 家中型和大型养猪场的业主进行了个人、面对面、深入的半结构化访谈。本研究确定了以下主要主题：（1）农场使用抗菌药物和抗菌药物知识；（2）猪场内的 AMU（AMU 的目的、抗菌药物处方实践和进行抗菌药物敏感性测试）；（3）对处方实践和记录保存的态度；（4）农场动物饲养实践和 AMU；（5）影响 AMU 的因素；（6）对抗药性的认识。大多数养猪场主认识到，要获得良好农业规范认证，就必须遵守 AMU 的立法和法规。其他观察结果是，受访者对处方实践持积极态度，在进行抗菌药物治疗前进行抗菌药物敏感性测试，并在农场记录药物使用情况；然而，对抗药性的认识很低。此外，还提到了替代物质，如药用植物和适当的生物安全措施。影响猪场内 AMU 的因素包括立法和法规的严格执行、农场管理实践的实施、兽医专业人员提供的信息和咨询服务、农民经验和消费者趋势。
