Environmental and animal drivers of antimicrobial resistance


Veterinary antimicrobial stewardship in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

A systems approach to livelihood-sensitive veterinary antimicrobial stewardship in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam. The Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpatialEpi) is a medical geography and disease ecology research group based at the University of Queensland that is involved in antimicrobial resistance investigations in Vietnam.

In response to the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), global attention is increasingly focussed on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). AMS involves the coordinated effort of all stakeholders to use antimicrobials appropriately, to reduce the development and spread of AMR. In some countries characterised by industrialised livestock systems, veterinary AMS has seen considerable success, largely attributed to greater regulation.

Countries dominated by smallholder systems are likely to be less responsive to such ‘top-down’ approaches. Vietnam has developed a National Action Plan on AMR and AMU reduction in livestock and aquaculture and is working to increase awareness of the problem. However, there remain significant challenges to achieving widespread AMS in farming communities. Effective AMS policy and action in Vietnam will need to be sensitive to the needs of farming communities.


SpatialEpiLab’s involvement

Our lab is involved in a project that aims to build an understanding of how antimicrobials were used in the livelihood strategies of smallholder farmers and their animal health networks. The project followed an iterative, mixed-methods design and combined epidemiological and Communication for Development approaches. The first study, in two provinces, revealed complex livelihoods interacting with decisions around antimicrobial use. Based on these findings, cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys were conducted. The final stage involved stakeholder workshops interpreting data and co-constructing an understanding of the system in which AMS decisions were made. Finally, stakeholders came together to identify leverage points for livelihood-sensitive intervention.

This research contributes to the global effort for greater antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Beyond implications for the communities studied, the research yields a transferrable approach to contextualising antimicrobial practices in smallholder farming communities. Further, systems practice brings community stakeholders together in support of livelihood-sensitive policy and action for AMS. Concrete, community-developed recommendations for improving AMS are being considered and/or implemented.


Team members on the project

Ricardo Soares Magalhães
Tarni Cooper


World Health Organization EpiX

EpiX protocol for investigation of anti-microbial resistance. The Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpatialEpi) is a medical geography and disease ecology research group based at the University of Queensland that is involved in antimicrobial resistance investigations.

Despite growing worldwide attention, there are substantial limitations to our understanding of the burden, distribution and determinants of anti-microbial resistance at the population level. To understand and be prepared for emerging threats, it is imperative to monitor the rise and spread of drug-resistant pathogenic strains and lineages.
DNA sequencing-based approaches combined with phylodynamic algorithms and statistical network theory can play an important role in this endeavour. The World Health Organization is leading to multi-year, multi-population epidemiological surveys of anti-microbial resistance in naturally occurring populations of key bacterial pathogens. This project will generate a more complete understanding of transmission events that mediate the spread of resistant isolates and facilitate population-specific monitoring and prevention programmes aimed at limiting the emergence of disease-causing bacteria.


SpatialEpiLab’s involvement

Our lab is working with non-goverment bodies to lead a multi-source epidemiological investigation into the spread of Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec). These are diverse and ubiquitous microorganisms that are responsible for severe morbidity and mortality in humans. Moreover, ESBL-Ec can readily cross barriers between humans, animals and the environment in a cyclic and reciprocating manner. They can be considered a highly relevant and representative contemporaneous indicator of the magnitude and leading edge of the global anti-microbial resistance problem.