Qualitative Study on Antimicrobial Usage and Resistance in the Dairy Chain: A Situation Analysis and Solutions by Stakeholders from Punjab, India

Abstract

The rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in animal foods and injudicious antibiotic use in the dairy sector pose significant threats to public health. Focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted with a strategic sample of four stakeholder groups (114 participants) associated with antibiotic usage in the dairy sector of Punjab. The FGDs were conducted among veterinarians (n = 56), para-veterinarians (n = 28), and KIIs were conducted among chemists (n = 18) and dairy quality managers (n = 12) during 2020–2021. FGDs and qualitative interviews of various stakeholders depict existing risk practices in the fields that may promote antimicrobial resistance. The present study revealed that widely prevalent quackery (treatment practices carried out by unauthorized persons without any recognized diploma/degree) and self-treatment by farmers, over-the-counter availability of antibiotics, low veterinarian per animal ratio, and lack of awareness among the society about the potential public health effects of antimicrobial resistance were the main risk factors for injudicious antibiotic use in the dairy sector. The present study involved a comprehensive approach targeting the stakeholders in the dairy sector and their reflections on judicious antimicrobial usage and antimicrobial resistance adapted to the dairy farming of Punjab. There is an urgent need for the advocation of policies that consider the specific challenges faced by the dairy sector to simultaneously improve access to veterinary services as well as strengthen antibiotic stewardship.

Accessing the behavior and awareness of veterinary professionals towards antimicrobials use and antimicrobial resistance in Indian district

“…Surprisingly, both para-veterinarians and veterinarians reported advising ABST only a few times, raising significant concerns ( Figure 9 ). Similar findings have been documented in other studies, highlighting the low prevalence of ABST in their respective areas ( 29 , 39 ). This raises concerns because empirical antibiotic prescriptions can lead to treatment failures, prolonged treatment durations, and ultimately reduced antibiotic efficacy in animals ( 40 ).…”

“…Our study findings found that para-veterinarians showed limited awareness of the consequences of antibiotic overuse and improper leading to AMR, whereas veterinarians demonstrated greater awareness ( Figures 4 , 5 ). These results indicate that all para-veterinarians are not aware of the factors responsible for AMR, aligning with studies in India showing limited knowledge among para-veterinarians about the consequences of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions ( 28 , 29 ). Limited training programs for para-veterinarians contribute to this gap.…”

Situation Analysis and Recommendations for the Biosecurity Status of Dairy Farms in Punjab, India: A Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Recent studies in the region have underscored the limited availability and adoption of diagnostic tools and preventive measures by animal health service providers. This, in turn, has contributed to the imprudent use of antimicrobial agents in the study region [35,36].…”

Health workers’ perspectives on the occurrence and management of antimicrobial resistance at the human-animal-environment interface in Uganda

“…Policies for controlling and optimizing the use of antimicrobials have been developed through legal provisions and program implementation, including surveillance of AMR and antimicrobial consumption in both human and animal sectors [34]. These are, however, seemingly not effective due to the laxity of the regulators to implement some of these AMR-related policies [43]. In a bid to control this, proper legislation must be framed to limit over-the-counter sales of antibiotics without a prescription from a veterinarian.…”