The acknowledgment of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a major health challenge in humans, animals and plants, has led to increased efforts to reduce antimicrobial use (AMU). To better understand factors influencing AMR and implement and evaluate stewardship measures for reducing AMU, it is important to have sufficiently detailed information on the quantity of AMU, preferably at the level of the user (farmer, veterinarian) and/or prescriber or provider (veterinarian, feed mill). Recently, several countries have established or are developing systems for monitoring AMU in animals. The aim of this publication is to provide an overview of known systems for monitoring AMU at farm-level, with a descriptive analysis of their key components and processes. As of March 2020, 38 active farm-level AMU monitoring systems from 16 countries were identified. These systems differ in many ways, including which data are collected, the type of analyses conducted and their respective output. At the same time, they share key components (data collection, analysis, benchmarking, and reporting), resulting in similar challenges to be faced with similar decisions to be made. Suggestions are provided with respect to the different components and important aspects of various data types and methods are discussed. This overview should provide support for establishing or working with such a system and could lead to a better implementation of stewardship actions and a more uniform communication about and understanding of AMU data at farm-level. Harmonization of methods and processes could lead to an improved comparability of outcomes and less confusion when interpreting results across systems. However, it is important to note that the development of systems also depends on specific local needs, resources and aims.

Centre of Expertise on Antimicrobial Consumption and Resistance in Animals Brussels Belgium

Danish Veterinary and Food Administration Glostrup Denmark

Department for Data Statistics and Risk Assessment Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety Vienna Austria

Department of Animal Health and Antimicrobial Strategies National Veterinary Institute Uppsala Sweden

Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences University of Copenhagen Frederiksberg Denmark

Division for Risk Assessment and Nutrition National Food Institute Technical University of Denmark Lyngby Denmark

Epidemiology Health and Welfare Unit French Agency for Food Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Ploufragan France

IFIP Institut du Porc Domaine de la Motte au Vicomte Le Rheu France

Institute for State Control of Veterinary Biologicals and Medicines Brno Czechia

Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany

Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e Dell'Emilia Romagna Brescia Italy

Moorepark Animal and Grassland Research Center Teagasc Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority Cork Ireland

Public Health Agency of Canada Guelph ON Canada

Research Group for Genomic Epidemiology National Food Institute Technical University of Denmark Lyngby Denmark

SAFOSO AG Bern Switzerland

School Veterinary Medicine University College Dublin Dublin Ireland

The Netherlands Veterinary Medicines Institute Utrecht Netherlands

Unit for Epidemiology Zoonoses and Antimicrobial Resistance Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Berlin Germany

Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology Institute of Food Safety Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Austria

Veterinary Epidemiology Unit Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke Belgium

Veterinary Medicines Directorate Addlestone United Kingdom

Vetsuisse Faculty Veterinary Public Health Institute University of Bern Bern Switzerland

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