ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN HUMANS AND FEED ANIMALS

Authors: OBRIEN, THOMAS - BRIGHAM WOMENS HOSPITAL; GUPTA, AMITA - CDC; CRAY, PAULA; THRELFALL, E - CENTRAL PUBLIC HEALTH LAB; KORTASKI, SUSAN - PHARMACIA ANIMAL HEALTH; EMBORG, HANNE-DORTHE - DANISH VETERINARY INST.

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2002
Publication Date: 6/30/2002
Citation: Obrien, T.F., Gupta, A., Cray, P.J., Threlfall, E.J., Kortaski, S.F., Emborg, H. 2002. Antibiotic resistance in humans and feed animals. International Association for Food Protection. Abstract. S01. P. 142.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Few issues evoke as much discussion and disagreement as the use or misuse of antibiotics in feed animal production systems. Increased concern over the development of antimicrobial resistance in human bacterial pathogens that are also carried by feed animals has led many public health and medical professionals to advocate the elimination of sub-professionals to advocate the elimination of sub-therapeutic antibiotics from food animal production. However, many veterinarians and animal production specialists are concerned that eliminating too many antibiotics will lead to poor animal health and increased bacterial pathogen loads in feed animals, and will adversely impact human health. In this symposium, experts from the United States and Europe describe trends and changing perceptions of the issues surrounding antimicrobial resistance; discuss the possibility that Salmonella Newport may emerge as a resistant strain; examine data from the national monitoring system on trends and implications of multiple drug resistance; review antibiotic resistance trends in Europe; provide an update on the use of third-generation Cephalosporins in animal medicine; and take a critical look at the consequence of removing subtherapeutic antibiotics from European farms.