Problems of antimicrobial resistance in veterinary medicine - investigation in an intensive livestock region

The resistance patterns of various pathogens to antibiotics in samples from cattle and pigs, including nasal swabs, milk and faeces samples, in North-west Germany were determined over a number of years and compared to those observed in the whole of Germany in 1997 In addition, the resistance within the Weser-Ems region with high and low intensities of livestock production were compared. The results indicate partial problems of antimicrobial resistance in the region with intensive livestock production systems, but they are nor significantly greater than in Germany as a whole. There were, however differences between the species. Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus agalactiae, as a cause of mastitis, was not so marked in the Weser-Ems region and decreased during the period 1994 to 1997 The percentages of pathogens causing respiratory disease in calves in the Weser-Ems region which were resistant were the same, and the percentage of resistant porcine pathogens was greater (88.2%) than in Germany as a whole (68.8%). Within the Weser-Ems region no correlation was found between the percentage of resistant pathogens and the intensity of livestock production. The differences in the percentage of resistant pathogens may be due to the care in the use of antibiotics, prophylactically and therapeutically rather than the intensity of livestock production. The results indicate that there is a need for the continued responsible use of antibiotics.