Background. Spontaneous and overuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry, a specially in poultry are contributing to the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). According to State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the amount of poultry meat per capita in 2012 was 10.6 kg, in 2017 it was 13 kg, and in 2021 it was 17kg. While the number of eggs per capita was 127 in 2012, it was 158 in 2017, and it was 187 in 2021. These figures show that poultry meat and egg have an important place in the food chain.
The goal of this project is to study of antibiotics usage in poultry in Azerbaijan in 2019-2021. The study of antibiotic resistance in poultry is very important for providing safe food to the population in Azerbaijan.
Methods The study of antibiotic susceptibility was based on the standard method of disc diffusion (Institute of Clinical and Laboratory Standards (CLSI)).  In 200 different samples taken from poultry farms (wall, water containers, feed containers, feathers, bird droppings, cloaca patch, mattress patch and microclimate samples) 12 antibiotics has been studied. As a result of bacteriological examinations, Streptococcus spp., E.coli, Salmonella spp. were identified in samples taken from poultry farms and their susceptibility to antibiotics was assessed as susceptible, intermediate and resistant in accordance with CLSI standards.
Results As a result, E.coli strain isolated from bird droppings was susceptible to 7 antibiotics, intermediately susceptible to one antibiotic, and resistant to 4 antibiotics. Streptococcus spp. isolates found in cloaca swap were susceptible to 5 antibiotics, while intermediately susceptible to 2 antibiotics, but resistant against 5 antibiotics. Salmonella spp. isolates isolated from the floor patch were found to be susceptible to 6 antibiotics, intermediately susceptible to one antibiotics, and resistant to 5 antibiotics.
 Conclusion Studies confirm the existence of irrational use of antibiotics in poultry in Azerbaijan and therefore cause antimicrobial resistance. At the next stage of the study, it is planned to carry out genetic research of resistant strains and develop an action plan to prevent antimicrobial resistance.