{"id":169765,"date":"2024-05-10T14:35:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T12:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ainia.com\/?p=167925"},"modified":"2024-08-05T11:41:16","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T09:41:16","slug":"3-initiatives-to-curb-antimicrobial-resistance-amr-in-the-food-and-clinical-sectors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ainia.com\/en\/ainia-news\/3-initiatives-to-curb-antimicrobial-resistance-amr-in-the-food-and-clinical-sectors\/","title":{"rendered":"3 initiatives to curb antimicrobial resistance in the food and clinical sectors"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance<\/strong> are complex and multifaceted, but they are not insurmountable. During World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, we share some of the initiatives we are working on, with various entities and companies, to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in sectors such as food and healthcare, among others.<\/p>\n

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week<\/strong> (18th to 24th November) is a global campaign organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), to promote awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance and encourage best practices among stakeholders in One Health, in order to reduce the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.<\/p>\n

Antimicrobials<\/strong> are substances used to prevent, control, and treat infectious diseases in humans, animals, and plants, but they are becoming increasingly ineffective. The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants are accelerating the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance worldwide. Currently, AMR represents one of the greatest threats to global health, food security, and development.<\/p>\n

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites stop responding to antimicrobials. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobials become ineffective, and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe forms of illness, and death.<\/p>\n

Preventive measures to curb antimicrobial resistance<\/h2>\n

To effectively curb antimicrobial resistance, all sectors must join forces to promote prudent use of antimicrobials, as well as preventive measures. Strengthening infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities, agricultural farms, and food industry facilities, ensuring access to vaccines, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, implementing best practices in food and agricultural production<\/strong>, and ensuring proper waste management and wastewater treatment from relevant industries are essential to reduce the need for antimicrobials and minimize the emergence and transmission of antimicrobial resistance.<\/p>\n

MICOALGA-FEED, MICROBIOSAFE, and BIOCLEAN are initiatives to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR)<\/h2>\n

At AINIA, we are working on various initiatives to curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in sectors such as food and clinical, among others:<\/p>\n

1. Development of new active ingredients with antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens<\/h2>\n

At AINIA, we are working on the MICROBIOSAFE project, where we research and experimentally develop new active ingredients with antimicrobial activity against pathogens that appear in the food production chain<\/a> (spanish) and whose origin is associated with production animals (zoonotic pathogens).<\/p>\n

Multisectoral use: food preservation, animal feed, and cleaning products<\/strong><\/p>\n

The application of these compounds is multisectoral as they are intended to be incorporated into food as preservation systems, as additives in animal feed to reduce the use of antibiotics in animal production systems, and to be used in industrial cleaning products to eliminate their presence throughout the food processing chain. The antimicrobial strategies we have developed within the project consist of:<\/p>\n