Misuse of antibiotics in animal and human health is a key factor in increasing antibiotic resistance worldwide. Reduction in the antibiotic consumption is the
key solution to the aforementioned problem and it can be achieved through awareness among large population. Direk Limmathurotsakul, Jonathan A T Sandoe, David C Barrett, Michael Corley, Li Yang Hsu, Marc Mendelson, Peter Collignon, Ramanan Laxminarayan, Sharon J Peacock, Philip Howard in collaboration have proposed that the ‘Antibiotic footprint’ could be used as one of the strategies to reduce antibiotic consumption by timely and precisely conveying information to the community on antibiotic usage and accordingly suggesting people to make changes in their behavior that eventually will reduce their direct and indirect  consumption of antibiotics. The majority of the nationwide and sector wise (Human, Animal, Environment) antibiotic consumption data is available for high-income countries. However, for the low and middle-income countries (LMICs) such data is not available. Hence, ‘Antibiotic footprint’ platform will help in making data openly accessible to all and can be used by all farmers, clinicians, researchers and policymakers. Moreover, antibiotic footprint can also be calculated for individuals and people can change their behavior accordingly to reduce antibiotic consumption. Such comprehensive information will be also useful in improving existing policies and National action plans regarding reduction of ABR.

To read more, please visit page of Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (Link)