Ministry of Health: guidelines on the use of antibiotics in farms

The Ministry of Health has published the "Guidelines for the promotion of the cautious use of antimicrobials in zootechnical farms for the prevention of antimicrobial resistance and alternative proposals”.

The document, written by the pharmacological section for veterinary medicine products (Ministerial Decree of 30 March 2016) provides useful indications to prevent the misuse of antimicrobials. In fact, in veterinary medicine, this is a real risk for animal health, for breeders and it is responsible for both the reduction of production and the inefficiency of herds.

The document is a practical guide for competent Authorities, free-lance veterinary and professionals who work in the sector; it provides useful information to reduce inappropriate use of antimicrobials and it promotes a prudent approach to the use of antimicrobials. 

The document, to be assessed and tailored for each farm, is also improved by a further study, the first of its kind, on the possibility of resorting to the vaccination strategy as an alternative to the use of antibiotics, especially in cases where these are used for the prevention of diseases of bacterial origin.