A One Health Approach to Antibacterial Efficacy in Animal Health

Antibacterial therapy remains the single most effective intervention in the treatment of specific diseases in animals and is an essential tool for protecting animal welfare. While preventative measures including vaccination are foundational in managing diseases and minimizing antibacterial use in livestock, antibacterial therapy is necessary for those situations where preventative measures fail to provide sufficient coverage. The One Health concept which integrates medical, veterinary and environmental health into a single approach provides a framework for understanding antibacterial use in veterinary medicine. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the efficacy of antibacterials for the treatment of animal diseases by comparison to similar use practices in human medicine.