The use and misuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals contributes to the global emergence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria, a threat to public health and infection control. Currently, India is the world’s leading milk producer but antibiotic usage within the dairy sector is poorly regulated. Little data exists reflecting how antibiotics are used on dairy farms, especially on small-scale dairy farms in India. To address this lack of data, a study was carried out on 491 small-scale dairy farms in two Indian states, Assam and Haryana, using a mixed method approach where farmers were interviewed, farms inspected for the presence of antibiotics and milk samples taken to determine antibiotic usage. Usage of antibiotics on farms appeared low only 10% (95% CI 8–13%) of farmers surveyed confirmed using antibiotics in their dairy herds during the last 12 months. Of the farms surveyed, only 8% (6–11%) had milk samples positive for antibiotic residues, namely from the novobiocin, macrolides, and sulphonamide classes of antibiotics. Of the farmers surveyed, only 2% (0.8–3%) had heard of the term “withdrawal period” and 53% (40–65%) failed to describe the term “antibiotic”. While this study clearly highlights a lack of understanding of antibiotics among small-scale dairy farmers, a potential factor in the emergence of AMR bacteria, it also shows that antibiotic usage on these farms is low and that the possible role these farmers play in AMR emergence may be overestimated.

中文翻译：

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使用混合方法了解印度阿萨姆邦和哈里亚纳邦小型奶牛场的抗生素使用情况——结果和挑战

人类和动物中抗生素的使用和滥用导致全球出现抗微生物 (AMR) 细菌，这对公共卫生和感染控制构成威胁。目前，印度是世界领先的牛奶生产国，但乳制品行业的抗生素使用监管不力。很少有数据反映奶牛场如何使用抗生素，尤其是在印度的小规模奶牛场。为了解决数据缺乏的问题，对印度阿萨姆邦和哈里亚纳邦两个邦的 491 个小规模奶牛场进行了一项研究，采用混合方法，采访农民，检查农场是否存在抗生素和牛奶样本确定抗生素的使用。在过去 12 个月内，只有 10%（95% CI 8–13%）的农场主确认在其奶牛群中使用抗生素。在接受调查的农场中，只有 8% (6–11%) 的牛奶样本抗生素残留呈阳性，即新生霉素、大环内酯类和磺胺类抗生素。在接受调查的农民中，只有 2% (0.8-3%) 听说过“停药期”这个词，53% (40-65%) 没有描述过“抗生素”这个词。虽然这项研究清楚地强调了小规模奶农对抗生素缺乏了解，这是 AMR 细菌出现的潜在因素，但它也表明这些农场的抗生素使用率很低，而且这些农民在 AMR 出现中可能发挥的作用可能被高估了。只有 8% (6–11%) 的牛奶样品抗生素残留呈阳性，即新生霉素、大环内酯类和磺胺类抗生素。在接受调查的农民中，只有 2% (0.8-3%) 听说过“停药期”这个词，53% (40-65%) 没有描述过“抗生素”这个词。虽然这项研究清楚地强调了小规模奶农对抗生素缺乏了解，这是 AMR 细菌出现的潜在因素，但它也表明这些农场的抗生素使用率很低，而且这些农民在 AMR 出现中可能发挥的作用可能被高估了。只有 8% (6–11%) 的牛奶样品抗生素残留呈阳性，即新生霉素、大环内酯类和磺胺类抗生素。在接受调查的农民中，只有 2% (0.8-3%) 听说过“停药期”这个词，53% (40-65%) 没有描述过“抗生素”这个词。虽然这项研究清楚地强调了小规模奶农对抗生素缺乏了解，这是 AMR 细菌出现的潜在因素，但它也表明这些农场的抗生素使用率很低，而且这些农民在 AMR 出现中可能发挥的作用可能被高估了。