A Comprehensive Review on Antimicrobial Resistance in Food Animals: Global Trends, Impacts and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animals affects human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability, making it an actual One Health concern. The article provides a thorough road map for the human, veterinary, ecosystem healthcare workers and policymakers by combining worldwide trends, underlying factors, and a variety of mitigation options from on-farm sanitation to advanced CRISPR techniques. A comprehensive review of bibliographic databases and organisational reports was conducted, identifying 172 scientific literature (2015 - early 2025) for datasets and updates on the global veterinary antimicrobial usage especially in livestock, future projections of veterinary AMR, the drivers and their impact across the human-animal-environment interface. The information from these studies have been integrated to provide an understanding of the AMR burden in livestock – the challenges in addressing the issue, potential mitigation strategies that can be explored, research gaps to be filled in the animal sector and implementation of a cross-sectoral ‘Planetary health’ approach to combat AMR. Eventually, the review underscores the need for prudent AMU, new classes of antimicrobials or alternatives, suitable vaccines, rapid diagnostics, antimicrobial and environmental stewardship programs, resourced surveillance systems through collaborative strategies for reducing the global AMR burden.