Abstract
Background: When animals get sick, their owners use a variety of means to treat them. One of the means is the use of antibiotics. However, antibiotics are used for several other reasons that are not therapeutic based. The result is the development of antimicrobial resistance, some of which is passed to humans during the period of treatment.
Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore the transmission of the resistance to antimicrobials to human beings during the treatment of camels using Tylosin in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive method using the survey research design. Structured questionnaires were used in the collection of data. The questionnaires were administered through an online platform.
Results: The findings showed that there was awareness among the owners regarding the possibility of transfer of resistance to tylosin to humans. The findings also showed that most of the farmers used antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections. However, there were findings of wrong use of antibiotics as well as attitudes fueling the wrong use of antibiotics.
Conclusion: More efforts are required towards the change of attitudes by the farmers to prevent the development and transfer of antimicrobial resistance.
Introduction
Organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) and scholars such as Marshall & Levy (2011) have found that there is an increase in antimicrobial resistance due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics that are not therapeutic based. The transfer of such resistance to human beings through the various animal products influence the treatment of various bacterial diseases. The study aimed at exploring the transmission of the resistance to antimicrobials to human beings during the treatment of camels using Tylosin in Saudi Arabia. The study was guided by the following research questions.
Is there an antimicrobial resistance due to the use tylosin in the treatment of camels in Saudi Arabia?
What are the routes of transmission of the antimicrobial resistance to human beings when tylosin is used in the treatment of camels in Saudi Arabia?
Are the people involved aware of the antimicrobial resistance due to the use tylosin in the treatment of camels in Saudi Arabia?
How can the method of antimicrobial resistance be awarenend?
Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive method using the survey research design was used in the study. The data collection instruments used in the study were structured questionnaires. The questionnaires were administered on an online platform. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and presented using pie charts, bar graphs and column charts.
Results and Discussion
The main findings were that there was awareness that antimicrobial resistance can be transmitted from animals to humans. Majority of the participants purchased their drugs from veterinary clinics, sought the services of a veterinary officer, and administered the dose until it was over. While these are positive elements, the study also found that antibiotics were used for nontherapeutic purposes. Even though the prevalence of use was significantly low, there is a need to change the attitudes of the farmers regarding the use of antibiotics (Zouwavi, 2016).
Conclusion
Much more is required to prevent further development of antimicrobial resistance as well as its transmission in human beings through animal products.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Antibiotic Resistance and the Use of Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/washington/testimony/2010/t20100714.htm
Marshall, B., and Levy, S. (2011). Food animals and antimicrobials: Impacts on human health. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 24(4): 718-733.
Zouwavi, H. (2016). Antimicrobial resistance in Saudi Arabia: An urgent call for an immediate action. Saudi Medical Journal. 37(9): 935-940.
