Antimicrobial class Antimicrobials with a related molecular structure, often with a similar mode of action. Variations in the properties of antimicrobials within a class often arise as a result of the presence of different side chains of the molecule, which confer different patterns of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior on the molecule. The ability of a micro-organism to continue to multiply or persist in the presence of therapeutic levels of an antimicrobial agent.
Antimicrobial resistance genes Genes in micro-organisms which confer resistance to antimicrobials.
These are often located on mobile genetic elements thereby enabling transmission from resistant to susceptible strains. Disease control Activities aimed at preventing or curing disease in animals intended for food. Empirical therapy Therapy that is initiated based on observation of clinical symptoms and patient history only, without previous confirmation of diagnosis by laboratory or other methods. Animals raised for the purpose of providing food for humans. Most commonly this refers to poultry, swine, cattle and sheep, but does not exclude other domestically managed animals.