Promoting Ethical Antimicrobial Stewardship via Species-Specific Development and Use
Mike King1, Bioethics Centre, University Of Otago Dunedin 1Bioethics Centre, University Of Otago, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
Abstract
Antimicrobials are of great prophylactic and therapeutic value for human and non-human animals. Many antimicrobials use the same mechanism of action regardless of species in which they are used. Their use in both humans and animals is linked increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance developing in pathogens that can affect both species. There are many strategies being used or proposed that aim to reduce this risk. It is common for these to assume this link between antimicrobial use and resistance development across the species. We argue that the development of antimicrobials for exclusive use in animals can offer an ethical strategy for controlling bacterial infection while reducing antimicrobial resistance development in humans and animals by breaking the link between human and animal antimicrobial use. We address ethical challenges that may arise for this approach, such as the opportunity cost for human health of human-exclusive use. We argue that this approach to antimicrobial development and use should be pursued to preserve the efficacy of human medicines for current and future generations while also providing the care we owe to animals.
Biography
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