Antibiotic Resistance Illustrated in a Comic

Since the early 20th century, the discovery of antibiotics has been a major turning point in the treatment of bacterial infections. In Canada, as in most industrialized countries, antibiotics are an important part of treating human and animal diseases. On dairy farms, they are used to treat conditions such as bovine mastitis and respiratory problems. However, in recent decades, the health and agri-food sectors have been confronted with the problem of antibiotic resistance. Bacteria have adapted by modifying their genetic code. Regulating the use of antibiotics has become a global concern. The alarm raised by researchers and stakeholders in human and animal health has led to the introduction of new regulations aimed at ensuring the targeted and controlled use of these molecules and thus reducing their impact on antibiotic resistance.

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WHY A COMIC?

Written and illustrated with humor, this original comic strip titled ExtrANTIBIOrdinary Adventures highlights the contribution of researchers and veterinarians from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Montreal and members of the Op+lait cluster in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

Dressed as superheroes, they combined their superpowers to carry out a large-scale project to collect data on antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance on Quebec dairy farms. The goal of this study was to propose appropriate strategies to improve herd health while combating this phenomenon of resistance. Sample collection for this project took a year and involved around 100 farms in southern Quebec. By creating this comic strip, they wanted to make their work and results accessible in order to educate the public and future generations about the importance of combating antibiotic resistance in dairy herds, as well as the importance of research.