Antibiotic Use in Food-Producing Animals and Its Contribution to Antibiotic Resistance
1
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
2
Department of Life Sciences, Health, and Health Professions, Link Campus University, Rome, Italy
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Non-therapeutic antibiotic use in food-producing animals - including prophylactic administration and growth promotion - creates sustained selective pressure favouring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development [1-2]. Animal-derived food products can transmit resistant bacteria to humans, representing a critical One Health concern [3]. This study aimed to quantify the association between non-therapeutic antibiotic use in animal production and AMR in unprocessed animal-derived foods sampled immediately after slaughter or collection.
METHODS:
A systematic review was conducted through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (inception to February 2025). Eligible studies compared AMR prevalence in food products from animals raised with non-therapeutic antibiotic use (conventional production) versus antibiotic-free systems (organic farming, wildlife). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models for each antibiotic-specific resistance. Heterogeneity was assessed via I² statistics. Subgroup analyses were stratified by food type and bacterial family.
RESULTS:
Eleven studies met inclusion criteria (4 on carcasses, 6 on raw milk, 1 on egg contents). Significant associations between conventional production and AMR were identified for critically important antibiotic classes: Macrolides [Erythromycin: OR 3.01 (1.36–6.64); Spiramycin: OR 5.24 (1.04–26.41); Tylosin: OR 4.54 (1.02–20.11)], Tetracycline [OR 3.33 (1.83–6.05)], and Beta-lactams [Ampicillin: OR 2.89 (1.64–5.09); Penicillin: OR 1.57 (1.12–2.19)]. Subgroup analyses by food type revealed stronger associations in raw milk, particularly for Ampicillin [OR 2.90 (1.86-4.52)] and Tetracycline [OR 3.70 (2.18–6.27)]. Moreover, antibiotic-specific resistance patterns greatly varied among bacterial families, particularly Campylobacteraceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcaceae, and Streptococcaceae.
CONCLUSIONS:
This meta-analysis provides evidence that non-therapeutic antibiotic use in animal production significantly increases AMR odds in food products for critically important antibiotic classes. Food- and pathogen-specific resistance patterns underscore the need for targeted surveillance and stricter antimicrobial stewardship policies in animal agriculture to mitigate foodborne AMR transmission risks.
Non-therapeutic antibiotic use in food-producing animals - including prophylactic administration and growth promotion - creates sustained selective pressure favouring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development [1-2]. Animal-derived food products can transmit resistant bacteria to humans, representing a critical One Health concern [3]. This study aimed to quantify the association between non-therapeutic antibiotic use in animal production and AMR in unprocessed animal-derived foods sampled immediately after slaughter or collection.
METHODS:
A systematic review was conducted through searches of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (inception to February 2025). Eligible studies compared AMR prevalence in food products from animals raised with non-therapeutic antibiotic use (conventional production) versus antibiotic-free systems (organic farming, wildlife). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models for each antibiotic-specific resistance. Heterogeneity was assessed via I² statistics. Subgroup analyses were stratified by food type and bacterial family.
RESULTS:
Eleven studies met inclusion criteria (4 on carcasses, 6 on raw milk, 1 on egg contents). Significant associations between conventional production and AMR were identified for critically important antibiotic classes: Macrolides [Erythromycin: OR 3.01 (1.36–6.64); Spiramycin: OR 5.24 (1.04–26.41); Tylosin: OR 4.54 (1.02–20.11)], Tetracycline [OR 3.33 (1.83–6.05)], and Beta-lactams [Ampicillin: OR 2.89 (1.64–5.09); Penicillin: OR 1.57 (1.12–2.19)]. Subgroup analyses by food type revealed stronger associations in raw milk, particularly for Ampicillin [OR 2.90 (1.86-4.52)] and Tetracycline [OR 3.70 (2.18–6.27)]. Moreover, antibiotic-specific resistance patterns greatly varied among bacterial families, particularly Campylobacteraceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcaceae, and Streptococcaceae.
CONCLUSIONS:
This meta-analysis provides evidence that non-therapeutic antibiotic use in animal production significantly increases AMR odds in food products for critically important antibiotic classes. Food- and pathogen-specific resistance patterns underscore the need for targeted surveillance and stricter antimicrobial stewardship policies in animal agriculture to mitigate foodborne AMR transmission risks.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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