Are We Winning the Battle Against Antibiotic Resistance? — Interview with Cristina Muñoz

Cristina Muñoz reviews a decade of progress in the responsible use of antibiotics in livestock

RumiNews Experts interviewed Cristina Muñoz, coordinator of the National Plan Against Antibiotic Resistance (PRAN) at the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products, to analyze the evolution of the plan after more than eleven years of work and its impact on the ruminant sector.

During the conversation, Muñoz highlighted that the main transformation achieved by the PRAN has been the change in behavior among both professionals and producers, moving away from entrenched practices and advancing towards a more rational and preventive use of antimicrobials.

She emphasized that this progress has been possible thanks to the voluntary collaboration of all sectors involved, especially recognizing the professionalism of the farming sector, which has adopted complex measures even in difficult production contexts.

In the case of ruminants, Muñoz described the reduction in antibiotic use as “spectacular,” especially in categories traditionally dependent on certain formulations. She also noted that identifying critical points —such as the entry of animals from multiple origins in fattening— has allowed for the implementation of more effective preventive strategies.

The PRAN coordinator stressed the need to strengthen vaccination as a key tool to reduce antibiotic dependence, reminding that “it is not an expense, but an investment” that improves health and productive performance.

In the international arena, Muñoz warned that, although Europe maintains a leadership position, there is still ample room to promote global awareness and support countries with fewer resources or more fragmented systems.

Finally, she addressed the controversy generated by the Royal Decree 666, noting that the lack of initial dialogue hindered its implementation, and defended the importance of listening to the sector to find balanced solutions.

You can watch the full interview here:

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