Antimicrobial Drug Resistance in Poultry Production: Current Status and Innovative Strategies for Bacterial Control

The world population's significant increase has promoted a higher consumption of poultry products, which must meet the specified demand while maintaining their quality and safety. It is well known that conventional antimicrobials (antibiotics) have been used in livestock production, including poultry, as a preventive measure against or for the treatment of infectious bacterial diseases. Unfortunately, the use and misuse of these compounds has led to the development and dissemination of antimicrobial drug resistance, which is currently a serious public health concern. Multidrug-resistant bacteria are on the rise, being responsible for serious infections in humans and animals; hence, the goal of this review is to discuss the consequences of antimicrobial drug resistance in poultry production, focusing on the current status of this agroeconomic sector. Novel bacterial control strategies under investigation for application in this industry are also described. These innovative approaches include antimicrobial peptides, bacteriophages, probiotics and nanoparticles. Challenges related to the application of these methods are also discussed.

Automated summary

The significant increase in the world population has led to higher consumption of poultry products, which must meet demand while maintaining quality and safety. The use and misuse of conventional antimicrobials in livestock production, including poultry, has resulted in the development and dissemination of antimicrobial drug resistance, which is a serious public health concern. This review discusses the consequences of antimicrobial drug resistance in poultry production, focusing on the current status of this sector and describing novel bacterial control strategies under investigation for application in the industry.