Aquaculture sector in Asia-Pacific has grown rapidly during the past four decades and contributed significantly to food security, nutrition, livelihood and overall socioeconomic development in the region. Meanwhile, disease problem has become increasingly challenging in aquaculture. Un-prudent and poorly controlled use of anti-microbial in animal disease control in aquaculture can have significant contribution to AMR risk. Although the control over the use of antimicrobial in aquaculture through some regulatory frameworks has been strengthened over the past decade in the region, it is far from adequate and effective in many Asian countries. In order to support the members to effectively address AMR in aquaculture for public health and sustainability of the sector, FAO and Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) jointly organized the regional consultation on AMR associated with aquaculture in Asia-Pacific on 4-6 September 2018. This publication documents the conduct of the regional consultation and its outputs, which identified major issues and gaps in tackling AMR issue in aquaculture and recommended desirable interventions and long-term strategy to effective mitigate AMR risk related to aquaculture in the region. The document also includes the seven country case studies on status of use of antimicrobial in aquaculture and the efforts to manage the risks of antimicrobial resistance, which were presented at the regional consultation.

In this issue of Pediatric Clinics, guest editors Chokechai Rongkavilit and Fouzia Naeem bring their considerable expertise to the topic of infectious pediatric diseases around the globe. Top experts in the field cover key topics such as pediatric tuberculosis, important nematodes in children, malaria, and more. - Contains 12 relevant, practice-oriented topics including Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission in Resource-Limited Countries; Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in the Developing World; Pediatric Care for Internationally-Adopted Children and Migrant Children; Vaccines for International Pediatric Travelers; Prevention of Emerging Infections in Children; and more. - Provides in-depth clinical reviews on infectious pediatric diseases around the globe, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. - Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

This catalogue aims to improve the dissemination and outreach of FAO’s knowledge products and overall publishing programme. By providing information on its key publications in every area of FAO’s work, and catering to a range of audiences, it thereby contributes to all organizational outcomes. From statistical analysis to specialized manuals to children’s books, FAO publications cater to a diverse range of audiences. This catalogue presents a selection of FAO’s main publications, produced in 2021 or earlier, ranging from its global reports and general interest publications to numerous specialized titles. In addition to the major themes of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, it also includes thematic sections on climate change, economic and social development, and food safety and nutrition.

Summary report published as technical document with reference number: WHO/HSE/PED/AIP/2014.2.

This report presents the implementation activities and results of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Project FMM/RAS/298/MUL: Strengthening capacities, policies, and national action plans on prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials in fisheries. The objectives of this project were to develop and/or enhance the knowledge, skills and capacity of the participating Competent Authorities on fisheries and aquaculture, as well as to assist them in the development and implementation of policies and national action plans (NAPs) on the prudent and responsible use of antimicrobials. The project enhanced the capacities of national Competent Authority (technical specialists, inspection and laboratory staff) to enable productive engagement with other lead agencies (e.g. the World Health Organization [WHO], national agriculture, food safety and animal health authorities), particularly with respect to their aquaculture and fish food safety component contributions to the NAP and the integration of the aquatic sector within the One Health framework. The report also briefly summarizes the recent actions and activities taken by FAO related to AMR in aquaculture since the completion of this project, including awareness raising targeting policymakers and aquaculture stakeholders, relevant publications, candidate reference centers and other ongoing projects to date.

Antibiotics are drugs of natural or synthetic origin that have the capacity to kill or to inhibit the growth of micro-organisms. Antibiotics that are sufficiently non-toxic to the host are used as chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diseases of humans, animals and plants. They have long been present in the environment and have played a crucial role in the battle between man and microbe. Many bacterial species multiply rapidly enough to double their numbers every 20-30 minutes, so their ability to adapt to changes in the environment and survive unfavourable conditions often results in the development of mutations that enable the species to survive changing external conditions. Another factor contributing to their adaptability is that individual cells do not rely on their own genetic resources. Many, if not all, have access to a large pool of itinerant genes that move from one bacteria cell to another and spread through bacterial populations through a variety of mobile genetic elements, of which plasmids and transposable elements are two examples. The capacity of bacteria to adapt to changes in their environment and thus survive is called resistance. Drug choices for the treatment of common infectious diseases are becoming increasingly limited and expensive and, in some cases, unavailable due to the emergence of drug resistance in bacteria and fungi - resistance that is threatening to reverse much medical progress of the past 50 years. Dissemination of resistant micro-organisms may occur in both hospitals and communities. It is recognized that a major route of transmission of resistant microorganisms from animals to humans is through the food chain. In aquaculture, antibiotics have been used mainly for therapeutic purposes and as prophylactic agents. The contribution to antimicrobial resistance of antibiotics used in aquaculture is reviewed here, using a risk analysis framework. Some recommendations on responsible conduct in this context are proposed, aimed at diminishing the threat of build up of antimicrobial resistance.

Avoiding infection has always been expensive. Some human populations escaped tropical infections by migrating into cold climates but then had to procure fuel, warm clothing, durable housing, and crops from a short growing season. Waterborne infections were averted by owning your own well or supporting a community reservoir. Everyone got vaccines in rich countries, while people in others got them later if at all. Antimicrobial agents seemed at first to be an exception. They did not need to be delivered through a cold chain and to everyone, as vaccines did. They had to be given only to infected patients and often then as relatively cheap injectables or pills off a shelf for only a few days to get astonishing cures. Antimicrobials not only were better than most other innovations but also reached more of the world’s people sooner. The problem appeared later. After each new antimicrobial became widely used, genes expressing resistance to it began to emerge and spread through bacterial populations. Patients infected with bacteria expressing such resistance genes then failed treatment and remained infected or died. Growing resistance to antimicrobial agents began to take away more and more of the cures that the agents had brought.

The global spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic bacteria is a continuing challenge to the health care of humans and domesticated animals. With no new agents on the horizon, it is imperative to use antimicrobial agents wisely to preserve their future efficacy. Led by Editors Stefan Schwarz, Lina Maria Cavaco, and Jianzhong Shen with Frank Møller Aarestrup, an international team of experts in antimicrobial resistance of livestock and companion animals has created this valuable reference for veterinary students and practitioners as well as researchers and decision makers interested in understanding and preventing antimicrobial resistance.

Risk analysis, simply put, is "science-based decision-making." An integrated approach to risk analysis will assist the aquaculture sector in reducing risks to successful operations from both internal and external hazards and can similarly contribute to protect the environment, society and other resource users from adverse and often unpredicted impacts. This leads to improved profitability and sustainability of the sector, while at the same time improving the public's perception of aquaculture as a responsible, sustainable and environmentally-friendly activity. This document presents peer-reviewed technical papers and contributions from international experts.