Indicator 4.4.7

Probiotics are living microbial cells that help improve the natural immunity level and positively impact animal growth and reproduction.
Probiotics are often used in aquaculture, agriculture or food products. If they harbour antimicrobial-resistant genes, these could transfer to harmful bacteria in humans, animals, or the environment, posing public health risks.
Bacteria in probiotics can share resistance genes with pathogenic bacteria through horizontal gene transfer, worsening the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) problem.
Registration and maintenance of detailed records of the source and strain of probiotics used are relevant to:
- Safety assurance- preventing adverse effects that might arise from compromised or contaminated batches.
- Resistance monitoring-probiotics can potentially develop resistance to antimicrobials, which could undermine their therapeutic benefits and lead to the emergence of resistant strains.
- Public health protection- preventing the spread of antimicrobial-resistant strains is essential for safeguarding public health.
- Regulatory compliance – maintaining the integrity and the quality of probiotic products.
- Traceability – maintaining records ensures the ability to trace the origin of probiotic strains, which is essential for quality control and accountability. In addition, confirm that the strain being used matches the intended species or subspecies, preventing the use of unverified or potentially harmful strains.

Records:
- Source and strain of all probiotic batches;
- The name and amount of the product;
- The reason to use;
- The dosage and administration instructions.

Adequate probiotic source and strain knowledge and cross-checking with use records.