Quantities of antimicrobials used in a specific setting (total, community, hospital) during a specific period of time (for example, days, months or years).

Bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobial drugs. 

Genes that confer antibiotic resistance to bacteria.

Microbiological tests that determine whether bacteria are susceptible or resistant to an antibiotic. 

How antimicrobials are used, including treatment goal, treatment of populations versus targeted individuals, duration of use, route of administration, and species treated (that is, human, animal or plant).

Measures that prevent the introduction of unwanted organisms from sources external to the farm and spread within the farm via pathways such as farm workers’ clothing and footwear, vehicles, equipment, feed, wildlife, etc.

Meat breeds of chickens that are produced for human consumption.

The One Health surveillance program of the Public Health Agency of Canada, which monitors antimicrobial use and AMR in selected bacteria from human, animal and food. More information is available on the Canadian government’s website. 

A third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) antibiotic used in veterinary medicine.

A third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) antibiotic used in human medicine, and the drug of choice for treating severe or invasive salmonellosis in people

Organisms that usually live in the human body without doing the host any harm. Some of these are beneficial to the host in different ways, which includes competing with other potentially pathogenic bacteria.

A specialist agency of the United Nations, with more than 194 member states. It aims to ensure that all people have access to an adequate supply of nutritious food.

Administration of therapeutic doses of antimicrobials to groups of animals to prevent the spread of clinical disease once some animals in the group show symptoms.

These include plasmids, transposons and prophages, and can transfer genes – including antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) – from one bacterial individual or species to another.

A process that uses AMR data that has been collected for other purposes, for example in humans using data generated from laboratories that test samples to support clinical treatment of hospitalised people.

Circles of DNA that can be transmitted between bacteria and frequently carry genes that confer resistance to antimicrobials.

The proportion of a population with a particular condition at a particular time. For example, the proportion of Salmonella isolates that are resistant to a particular antibiotic at the time of testing.

Administration of therapeutic doses of antimicrobials to groups of animals to prevent clinical disease.

A symptomatic infection of the intestinal tract by Salmonella bacteria, causing diarrhoea, abdominal cramps and fever.

Distinct areas of society concerned with defined roles. In the context of One Health AMR, these include: 

• human health and social care
• terrestrial and aquatic animal health and production
• plant health and production
• environmental management.
  

A complication of an infection involving severe immune response to a pathogen in the blood that can be fatal.

A dose of a drug that is insufficient for a clinical effect. Sub-therapeutic doses of antimicrobials kill susceptible bacteria, enabling the resistant bacteria to increase in the population.

A family of bactericidal beta lactam antibiotics that disrupt the formation of the bacterial cell wall. The term ‘third-generation’ is used because they result from two rounds of chemical modifications of the original cephalosporin molecule.

A collaboration of the three global organisations (FAO, OIE and WHO), working together to minimise the spread of and risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

An agency of the United Nations, established in 1948, that is responsible for international public health. Its mandate includes advocating for universal healthcare, monitoring public health risks, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and promoting human health and wellbeing. It provides technical assistance to countries, sets international health standards and guidelines, and collects data on global health issues.

The intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving the health of livestock and other animals worldwide. The acronym is derived from the original French name of the organisation, Office International des Epizooties.

Bacteria that can be transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to people.