FAO publishes antimicrobial resistance terms in different languages

To avoid misunderstandings and inconsistent interpretations, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Terms. The technical definitions are now available in all six UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish), as well as other languages.

As noted by Socrates, “the beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms.” In addressing the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance, this statement is no less true today than it was 2500 years ago,” said Jeff LeJeune, FAO Food Safety Officer, who led the working group to define the technical terms.  

He noted that very often the understanding or intended meaning of the terms used by different writers or speakers have slight to significant deviations, resulting in nuanced to critical differences.