Antimicrobial resistance in the Netherlands

Following the massive reduction in the use of antibiotics in the Netherlands (>50%) by the veterinarians over the last couple of years, they are starting to see some benefits regarding a drop in antimicrobial resistance associated with the human ‘critical use’ antimicrobials. In comparison with 2009 (MARAN 2011), a recent report with data for 2012 (MARAN 2013) has shown a steady decrease in resistance in several species of animal, including pigs, to the ‘critical use’ antimicrobials used