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Antimicrobial Resistance

Protecting livestock workers, veterinarians, and animals from AMR: Development and evaluation of educational resources

PROJECT LEADS:
Carolyn Sheridan RN, BSN
Ag Health and Safety Alliance – Founder/ President

David Sullivan Adv, Dip FBM
Ag Health and Safety Alliance -Program Director

Jenna Gibbs, MPH, PhD
Ag Health and Safety Alliance – Project Coordinator and Educator

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an important emerging issue in public health, and a threat to the One Health model. Several zoonotic diseases are present in agriculture and may be caused by pathogens that are transmissible between humans and animals.

This project aims are threefold:

  • Review existing AMR resources and develop new classroom content for agriculture and veterinary courses.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the newly developed AMR curriculum with agriculture and veterinary students by pilot testing the new curriculum at four collegiate programs in the UMASH region.
  • Analyze student survey data on safety measures when handling antibiotics and sharps, as well as PPE-use handling livestock pharmaceuticals. This information will provide insight on safety behaviors of young adults and the risk of AMR infection and prevention methods.

Lessons learned from this project will assist us in effectively training agricultural stakeholders about the importance of AMR prevention.

Are large-animal veterinarians at increased risk of antimicrobial resistant bacterial carriage?

PROJECT LEADS:

Gerald Stokka, DVM, MS
NDSU Extension Veterinary Medicine

Teckla Webb, DVM
NDSU Department of Public Health

Paul Carson, MD, FACP
NDSU Department of Public Health and Sanford Health

Teresa Bergholz, PhD
NDSU Department of Microbiological Sciences

Transfer of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria from animals to agricultural workers has been shown in several studies of farmers and slaughterhouse workers. Large-animal veterinarians might also be expected to have regular exposure, although much less is known about their risk.

This study will evaluate the transfer rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other AMR bacterial infections in large-animal veterinarians as compared to a community population (control group) via collection of nasal and fecal samples. Results will be correlated with an assessment of various professional risk factors within the large animal veterinarian occupation.

Hypothesis:

  • We hypothesize large-animal veterinarians carry MRSA and AMR bacterial populations at higher rates in nasal and enteric isolates compared to a community control population.

Findings and Results: