Meet the Ambassador…

Jeroen Dewulf graduated as a veterinarian and currently works as full professor in Veterinary Epidemiology at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Ghent University in Belgium. His main research interests are related to antimicrobial use and resistance in animals as well as the prevention of epidemic and endemic diseases with a focus on the application of disease prevention and biosecurity measures. Jeroen is the main developer of the biocheck.ugent biosecurity scoring system which is used worldwide as a tool for disease prevention in animal production. He is also responsible for the annual Belgian report on antimicrobial consumption in animals (BelVetSac) and chair of the JPI-AMR network on quantification of antimicrobial consumption in animals at herd level. In addition Jeroen is the founder and chair of the centre of expertise on antimicrobial use and resistance in animals (AMCRA) in Belgium. He has recently written the book “8 myths on antimicrobial resistance disproved, practical guide for reducing antibiotic use in animal husbandry”.

About his book: Antibiotic resistance has been all over the news in recent years. Not only is the problem expanding at an alarming rate, it is also a particularly complex issue. Human, animal and environmental factors as well as the interaction between these three players all have an impact on antibiotic resistance. This complexity has given rise to numerous misunderstandings. In this book, a unique combination of in-depth theory and practical tips and tricks, the author provides a step-by-step explanation of the epidemiology of antibiotic use and resistance in animals, and the possible impact on humans. At the same time, he does away with a whole series of myths and clearly demonstrates there is no need for pessimism.

The book is available in Dutch, English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and English. Interested parties can contact Jeroen directly at jeroen.dewulf@ugent.be.