Solutions | Antibio : ça résiste..., Une seule santé

1Avoiding infections and preventing their spread

Certain measures can prevent infections from occurring or limit their spread.

In human healthcare…

awareness-raising initiatives, vaccinations, hand hygiene, good personal and oral hygiene, adoption of infection-specific preventive measures (wearing masks, correct management of faecal waste/vomit, etc.), and measures specifically for patients who carry resistant bacteria

In animal healthcare…

awareness-raising initiatives amongst animal owners, vaccinations, biosecurity practices in animal-related production (disinfection of equipment and clothing/footwear, quality of drinking water and animal feed, management of livestock density, minimising contact with wild animals, and implementing appropriate measures should an infection be detected)

2Limiting unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics and ensuring correct use

Only prescribe antibiotics when strictly necessary and ensure they are used in the most effective and safest way possible.

In animal healthcare… overall antibiotic consumption in France fell by 52% between 2011 and 2022.

In human healthcare… antibiotic consumption in France fell by 14% between 2013 and 2023 in urban areas.

In both animal healthcare and human healthcare, ongoing efforts are being made, particularly with regard to certain classes of antibiotics.

In the event of infection, it is essential…

to make the right diagnosis as quickly as possible: for certain infections, rapid diagnostic tests or screening tests are available which can, for example, differentiate between a bacterial infection and a viral infection, ensuring that antibiotics are only prescribed in the case of a bacterial infection.
to prescribe the correct antibiotic treatment for the bacterial infection (where antibiotics are deemed necessary) ensuring it is administered in the right dosage and taken for the right duration; an antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) can help determine the most appropriate course of treatment to prescribe.

3Reducing exposure to antibiotics and to resistant bacteria in the environment

The primary source of antibiotics and antibiotic residue in the environment is due to disposal/discharge by humans and animals

How can we reduce the risks?

The use of antibiotics

Antibiotics should always be used responsibly

The disposal of antibiotics

Unused antibiotics should NEVER be flushed down the toilet or thrown in a bin; they should be returned to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

The control of effluents

It is essential…

to limit, to control and to treat effluents and discharges from the pharmaceutical industry, discharges from hospitals and healthcare facilities as well as domestic wastewater in water treatment plants
to treat sewage sludge from water treatment plants prior to land application
to manage land application and irrigation in line with best agricultural practices
to limit heavy metal pollution

Minimising antibiotic residues

It is important to reduce antibiotic residues in milk and meat intended for human consumption. In France and throughout the European Union, animals reared for food consumption that have been treated with antibiotics may only be slaughtered after the statutory withdrawal period has elapsed, in order to ensure that no residues remain in the meat. Similarly, dairy animals that have been treated with antibiotics are excluded from milk production for a statutory withdrawal period to ensure that antibiotic residues are eliminated from the milk.

The second source contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance in the environment is the use and presence of biocides, which can promote cross-resistance

Cleaning does not have to involve ‘disinfecting’!

In France, the CERTIBIOCIDE initiative aims to promote the responsible use of biocidal products by providing individual certification for the professional use and distribution of certain types of biocidal products.

4Mobilising professionals across all sectors

By sharing knowledge and best practice through a network-based approach.
By promoting research to develop new tools, measures and practices in the areas of prevention, diagnosis, decision-making, and treatment, whether in the form of new antibiotics or alternatives; by promoting cross-sectoral research.
By referring to specialist organisations for advice and support in order to optimise the quality of care for patients and animals.
Examples for human healthcare: by referring to national reference centres for antimicrobial resistance, regional antimicrobial therapy services, and support centres for the prevention of infections acquired during healthcare.
Examples for animal healthcare: by referring to recommendations on the appropriate use of antibiotics based on animal sector and medical condition. Click here for a list of the most important resources on human, animal and environmental health concerning antibiotic resistance and best practices in antibiotic use.
By supporting all local initiatives aimed at reducing the introduction of antibiotics and biocides into the water cycle; by treating wastewater before it is discharged into the environment (particularly from industry) or by ensuring that domestic and healthcare facility wastewater is channelled to treatment plants; by optimising treatment at wastewater facilities to reduce concentrations and purify the water before releasing it into the environment; by managing sludge application in accordance with agricultural practices; by monitoring antibiotic resistance in water, aquatic environments and at sludge application sites, in order to better understand the processes and identify ways of reducing risks.