GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS IN FLORFENICOL: A FOUR-DECADE BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF SCIENTIFIC EVOLUTION FROM VETERINARY THERAPEUTICS TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND RESISTANCE CONCERNS

Abstract

Florfenicol, a broad-spectrum antibiotic extensively used in veterinary medicine, has gained significant attention in recent research because of growing concerns about antimicrobial resistance and its environmental impacts, particularly within the context of the One Health approach. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 972 florfenicol publications indexed in Scopus (1986-2025) was conducted using Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer. Multiple indicators were assessed including annual production trends, journal distribution, author productivity, institutional affiliations, international collaborations, citation patterns, and thematic evolution through keyword analysis. Florfenicol research demonstrated remarkable growth with a 10.55% annual increase, evolving through four distinct phases from minimal activity (1986-1999) to exponential expansion (2018-2025). China dominated with 401 corresponding author publications (41.3%), followed by the USA (84 articles, 8.6%). Strong international collaboration was observed (17.6% multi-country publications), particularly between China and the USA (32 joint studies). Thematic evolution shifted from basic pharmacokinetics and residue studies to contemporary focus on antimicrobial resistance genes, impact on the environment, and advanced analytical methods. Highly cited studies emphasized resistance mechanisms and environmental dissemination. Florfenicol research has transformed from a niche veterinary topic into a multidisciplinary domain addressing global antimicrobial resistance challenges. The field demonstrates strong international collaboration but reveals geographic disparities requiring attention. Future research should prioritize prevention strategies over detection methods while establishing networks linking high-output countries with underrepresented regions for comprehensive global resistance surveillance.