Abstract：
Reducing the inappropriate use of antibiotics in food animals is a global priority to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We investigated practices and factors associated with antibiotic use in small-scale commercial broiler farms in Lilongwe district, Malawi. We used structured questionnaires to collect data on recent antibiotic use practices among 128 broiler farmers, who kept between 50 and 1 000 birds, from December 2022 to March 2023. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with antibiotic use. Over half (53.1 %, n=68) of the farms reported using antibiotics at least once in the previous production cycle. Overall, 11 different types of antibiotics were used either for treatment and/or preventive purposes, with oxytetracycline (88.2 %), erythromycin (29.4 %), and enrofloxacin (26.5 %) reported as the frequently used. One-third of all antibiotic formulations contained multiple active antibiotic ingredients, with 12 % containing four antibiotics. Covariates associated with an increased likelihood of antibiotic use include disease incidence (OR=13.8, 95 % CI 5.27-42.50, p<0.001) and entry of wild birds into poultry houses (OR=3.56, 95 % CI =1.44-9.61, p=0.008). Our study highlights inappropriate usage of antibiotics, largely associated with reduced biosecurity and disease incidence. These findings underscore the need to strengthen veterinary services, reinforce regulations on antibiotic access and use, and farmer education programs promoting proper husbandry, biosecurity, and responsible antibiotic use.
摘要：
减少食用动物中抗生素的不当使用是解决抗生素耐药性（AMR）的全球优先事项。我们调查了利隆圭区小型商业肉鸡养殖场中与抗生素使用相关的做法和因素，马拉维。我们使用结构化问卷收集了128个肉鸡养殖户最近使用抗生素的数据，饲养了50到1000只鸟，从2022年12月到2023年3月。采用Logistic回归分析确定与抗生素使用相关的危险因素。超过一半（53.1%，n=68）的农场报告在上一个生产周期中至少使用过抗生素。总的来说,11种不同类型的抗生素用于治疗和/或预防目的，土霉素（88.2%），红霉素（29.4%），和恩诺沙星（26.5％）报告为经常使用。三分之一的抗生素制剂含有多种活性抗生素成分，12%含有四种抗生素。与抗生素使用可能性增加相关的协变量包括疾病发生率(OR=13.8,95%CI5.27-42.50,p<0.001)和野鸟进入禽舍(OR=3.56,95%CI=1.44-9.61,p=0.008)。我们的研究强调了抗生素的不当使用，在很大程度上与降低生物安全性和疾病发病率有关。这些发现强调了加强兽医服务的必要性，加强对抗生素获取和使用的规定，和促进适当畜牧业的农民教育计划，生物安全,负责任的抗生素使用。
