Reduction of antibiotic usage in animal treatment in the EU based on European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption reports

Misusage of antimicrobial substances in human and veterinary medicine may lead to increased occurrence of multidrug resistant bacteria, which causes a serious risk to public health. In order to monitor usage of antibiotics in the European Union, in 2009 the European Medicines Agency launched a project of European Surveillance of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption (ESVAC). The report presents data on the amount of antibiotics used as a part of treatment of infectious diseases in various species of animals in 31 European countries. The main aim of this article is to present newest statistical data on the amount of antimicrobials used in EU, as well as provide information on applicable legal regulations regarding the use of antibiotics. Information provided by EMA proves that in most countries of the EU, with the exception of Poland, the sales of antimicrobial agents significantly decreased.