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Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain

Explore how antibiotic in farming contributes towards resistant bacteria in our food chain and how to solve this issue in University of Nottingham's online course.

Duration

3 weeks

Weekly study

3 hours

100% online

How it works

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How do antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop and find their way into our food?

Learn what antibiotics are, how they work, and how bacteria become resistant to their effects. Hear how antibiotics are used from the perspective of healthcare and veterinary professionals. Explore how antibiotics are used in farming: How can antibiotic-resistant bacteria find their way onto our food? What impact does the environment and global trade have on the spread of this bacteria? Finally, consider what might be done to tackle antibiotic resistance: How effective are current policies? Can we find new types of antibiotics or alternatives to antibiotics? What can we do internationally?

Week 1
The mechanisms and transfer of antimicrobial resistance
- Introduction to the Course
  Why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) such a pressing issue? Find out what we will be covered in this course and meet the educators who will be guiding you through it.
- What are antibiotics?
  Learn about what antibiotics are, the history of their discovery, and how they actually work to fight infections.
- Uses of antibiotics
  Find out about when and how antibiotics are used within human and veterinary medicine.
- How does resistance develop?
  Uncover the mechanisms by which resistance has developed through the overuse of antibiotics.
- Transmissible antimicrobial resistance
  How does resistance in bacteria spread to increase the pool of resistance?
Week 2
Antibiotics in the food chain
- Introduction to Week 2
  This week we will explore the role of antibiotics in the food chain in more detail. We start by looking at the public's perception of AMR, and we consider how much danger it poses compared to other existential threats.
- AMR and the Food Chain
  Explore the risks of resistant bacteria at all stages of the food chain, from farm to fork. (Photo by USDA).
- AMR and the Environment
  The wider environment has been affected enormously by the use of antibiotics. (Photo by Matthew McVickar).
- AMR and International Trade
  What role does international trade have in the spread of antibiotic resistance across the globe?
Week 3
Antibiotic usage and control: Past, present and future
- Introduction to Week 3
  This week we explore the ways in which we might be able to tackle the problem of AMR.
- Past: History of AMR in the Food Chain
  Explore the history of antibiotics in agriculture and what efforts have been made so far to monitor and control their usage. (Photo courtesy Orange County Archives).
- Present: What are we doing to address AMR?
  Review the current approaches for controlling the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
- Future: Further Opportunities for Control
  Explore possible methods we may use to tackle AMR in the future, including new scientific developments and improvements to international control measures. Could a world without antibiotics ever be viable?
- Wrapping Up
  In this final section, we summarise the key themes that have been covered over the last three weeks and provide suggestions for further study. Passing the final assessment will mean you qualify for a certificate of completion.