Abstract
Purpose:
The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock has increased in the last decades threatening human and animal health. Reduced antimicrobial use is needed to decrease the prevalence of AMR. Antimicrobial (AM) usage is complex due to interaction of biological processes and farmers’ decisions. These decisions are driven by economic considerations, but also by motivations, cognitions and social networks. Little is known about integrated influence of such aspects on adaptation of the farmer's management behavior of AM usage, affecting AMR.
Here, this complex adaptive system (CAS) of MRSA and antimicrobial usage in fattening pig farming was investigated for a better insight. Additionally we evaluated:
• The effect of policy interventions to reduce AM usage levels
• The resilience of reduced AM usage levels against the outbreaks of livestock diseases
Methods:
An agent-based model was developed in which farmers take decisions based on their observations of health problems on the farm and their beliefs and motivations. The motivations are influenced by information on public health effects of AM usage, pressure from peers and incentives arising from policies. Each farm consisted of a number of pens with pigs, which were healthy, diseased by an endemic or emerging disease, and are either contaminated with MRSA or not. Pigs were treated with AMs based on their health status and the decision of the farmer.
Results:
The agent-based model was calibrated to data on MRSA prevalence, AM usage and endemic disease prevalence.
Different hypotheses are investigated with this tool. The importance of the effects of outbreaks of infectious diseases and pressure from peers and policy are shown.
Conclusions:
We constructed an agent-based model capturing the essentials of MRSA epidemiology and the use of AMs in the Netherlands. We can show how policy interventions can potentially change the usage of AMs and its robustness of reduced AM usage levels against outbreaks of infectious diseases. We have created a useful tool for advising policy.
Relevance:
AMR is an increasing problem in veterinary public health, but the effect of policies to reduce AM usage are not always evident
The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in livestock has increased in the last decades threatening human and animal health. Reduced antimicrobial use is needed to decrease the prevalence of AMR. Antimicrobial (AM) usage is complex due to interaction of biological processes and farmers’ decisions. These decisions are driven by economic considerations, but also by motivations, cognitions and social networks. Little is known about integrated influence of such aspects on adaptation of the farmer's management behavior of AM usage, affecting AMR.
Here, this complex adaptive system (CAS) of MRSA and antimicrobial usage in fattening pig farming was investigated for a better insight. Additionally we evaluated:
• The effect of policy interventions to reduce AM usage levels
• The resilience of reduced AM usage levels against the outbreaks of livestock diseases
Methods:
An agent-based model was developed in which farmers take decisions based on their observations of health problems on the farm and their beliefs and motivations. The motivations are influenced by information on public health effects of AM usage, pressure from peers and incentives arising from policies. Each farm consisted of a number of pens with pigs, which were healthy, diseased by an endemic or emerging disease, and are either contaminated with MRSA or not. Pigs were treated with AMs based on their health status and the decision of the farmer.
Results:
The agent-based model was calibrated to data on MRSA prevalence, AM usage and endemic disease prevalence.
Different hypotheses are investigated with this tool. The importance of the effects of outbreaks of infectious diseases and pressure from peers and policy are shown.
Conclusions:
We constructed an agent-based model capturing the essentials of MRSA epidemiology and the use of AMs in the Netherlands. We can show how policy interventions can potentially change the usage of AMs and its robustness of reduced AM usage levels against outbreaks of infectious diseases. We have created a useful tool for advising policy.
Relevance:
AMR is an increasing problem in veterinary public health, but the effect of policies to reduce AM usage are not always evident
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | ISVEE 14 |
Publication status | Published - 3 Nov 2015 |