Publikationsdatenbank

Assessing the feasibility of a two-cohort design to assess the potential of homeopathic medicinal products to reduce antimicrobial resistance in turkeys (The HOMAMR Project):
study protocol (2024)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Baur-Bernhardt, Silvia (WE 8)

Käsbohrer, Annemarie

Doherr, Marcus Georg (WE 16)

Meemken, Diana (WE 8)

Sonnenschein-Swanson, Lena (WE 8)

Stetina, Birgit Ursula

Sommer, Mary-Ann (WE 8)

Weiermayer, Petra

Quelle

Homeopathy : the journal of the Faculty of Homeopathy

Seiten: 1 – 8

ISSN: 1475-4916

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.1055/s-0044-1781448

DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1781448

Kontakt

Institut für Veterinär-Epidemiologie und Biometrie

Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 56034
epi@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Background:
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious public health concern worldwide. The European Union requires a reduction in the use of antibiotics by 50% by 2030, with separate regulations on organic production that give preference to homeopathy and phytotherapy in organic farms before the use of conventional medicines (including antibiotics). We have therefore designed a two-phased project whose overarching aim is to investigate the potential role of homeopathic medicinal products (HMPs) in combating AMR in turkeys (the HOMAMR project): a two-cohort feasibility study using turkey-farm data that have been collected and analyzed retrospectively, followed by a prospective two-cohort study in turkey farms that would examine the impact of HMPs on changing antibiotic use.

Objective:
The objective of this paper is to describe the protocol for the first phase of HOMAMR, which is a study under field conditions to assess the feasibility of collecting data retrospectively about turkeys that have been managed conventionally only or with HMPs.

Methods:
Surveys performed on farms in Germany and Austria, including interviews with consenting farmers, will determine the feasibility of comparing retrospectively gathered data on antibiotic use and performance/production data in two cohorts of turkeys: (1) homeopathic treatment with conventional care (antibiotics) added if necessary or (2) conventional care (antibiotics) only. Co-primary outcomes to be studied are the amount of antimicrobial use and production period-related mortality. In addition, other production/performance parameters will be compared between the two treated cohorts.

Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first feasibility study on the treatment of turkeys using homeopathy, and whose retrospectively obtained data will inform a prospective study that would examine the impact of HMPs on antibiotic use in commercial turkey raising, fattening and breeding production.