The UK One Health Report data captures resistance in four bacteria that are common to both humans and animals in the UK, as well as comparative data on anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in isolates from retail meat.

The report finds that the total combined quantity of antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine dropped by 19 percent between 2013 and 2017. The levels of resistance dropped between 2013 and 2017 for the majority of antibiotics tested in bacterial isolates from healthy food-producing animals.

Today’s report follows the five year AMR Strategy, launched on 24 January, which sets out the ambition for AMR to be contained and controlled by 2040, covering health, animals, the environment and the food chain.

Professor Peter Borriello, CEO of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, said:

“A key priority for the UK government is to protect human and animal health by minimising the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Our total combined use of antibiotics in humans and animals dropped by 19 percent between 2013 and 2017, and represented falls for both animal (35 percent) and human (6 percent) medicine. Overall, there was a reduction in resistance to critical antibiotics.

“I am pleased to see our progress presented in this second One Health report, which provides valuable information for us to use to progress further in tackling the threat of AMR together.”