Antibiotic Use in Agriculture Sara Pratt Antibiotic Background

Antibiotic Use in Agriculture Sara Pratt

Antibiotic • Background The first antibiotic, penicillin, was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. • Antibiotics for human use was first introduced in the 1940 s and is considered one of the greatest medical discoveries of the 20 th century. • By the 1970 s researchers were already warning people that the heavy, routine use of antibiotics was contributing to a increase in drug resistant pathogens, or superbugs. Superbug: A pathogen that has been modified by evolution or scientists that has grown resistant and powerless to existing antibiotics.

Antibiotic Resistance • It is widely accepted by scientists that antibiotic and antimicrobial use is the leading cause of the emergence of antibiotic resistance drugs. • Scientists have been observing the growing resistance virtually since the introduction of antibiotics. • Additionally, “the emergence of drug resistance has been observed following the introduction of each new class of antibiotics, and the threat is compounded by a slow drug development pipeline and limited investment in the discovery and development of new antibiotic agents, ” (Landers, Cohen, Wittum, Larson).

Antibiotic Resistance Continued • Resistance spreads when a person takes antibiotic. The sensitive bacteria that the antibiotics can kill along with some good bacteria inside a human die leaving resistant bacteria to grow and multiply. • Antibiotic resistance can cause diseases that were once treatable and even on the brink of eradication to come back in full force. These illnesses could cause dangerous infections and increased suffering for children, adults, and the elderly.

Combating Antibiotic Resistance • Due to these potentially life-saving antibiotics losing their effectiveness, both national and international efforts have been formed to curb their encouragement and unnecessary use. - It was urged that medical practitioners take extra care to not over prescribe and give to those who truly need antibiotics and those who want them. - It was believed that due to the potential threat, veterinarians were pushed to limit the use of antibiotics in animals raised for food. - Commercial companies were encouraged to stop producing anything that was labeled antimicrobial.

ory of Antibiotic Use in the Agriculture Industry • In the 1950 s, the FDA approved antibiotic use in livestock. • It was approved for both disease treatment and prevention. • It was later discovered that animals that got antibiotics in their feed put on more weight in less time. Additionally, it allowed more efficient feeding because less food was needed per animal. • Antibiotics are also used in horticulture. They are sprayed on fruit trees and other plants to prevent and treat infection.

Current Antibiotic Policy in • Food Animals As of 2017, the FDA implemented new antibiotic rules that worked to eliminate, "the growth promotion use of human medically important antibiotics and expanding the list of feed-grade antibiotics classified as Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) drugs, " (Beth Ferry, MSU Extension). - This meant that drugs commonly administered to put on weight would only be available by prescription from a veterinarian. - Only a small number of antibiotics are available by prescription only; most are still readily, easily available. - Injectable antibiotics are not included.

Pros and Cons: Antibiotic Use in Food Animals Shelf life of meat treated with antibiotics is longer Livestock treated live longer Animals receiving antibiotics gain more weight Pros Used for the treatment and prevention Cons Fluoroquinolones used in livestock animals can contribute to increased resistance in foodborne bacteria Widespread antibiotic use (among humans and livestock) has lead to multidrug resistant pathogens Treating animals with antibiotics cuts down of food costs Fluoroquinolones: Are antibiotics that are commonly used to treat illnesses of the respiratory organs and urinary tract.

Antibiotics: Humans vs • Food Animals It is estimated that up to 80 percent of antibiotics used in the United States are given to animals not humans. - However, it should be noted that for the most part, the antibiotics given to animals are different then the ones given to humans.

Antibiotics Use in Agriculture: Fact vs Fiction

Antibiotics and Cancer?

Potential Mechanisms Leading to Human Diseases

Legislative Efforts • There has been a big push by different activist groups over this evergrowing antibiotic controversy for more regulation within the agriculture industry. • Many believe that a bill needs to introduced that completely phases out the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics in animals.

Current Data

Other Factors Other factor contributing to antibiotic resistance: • Antibiotic resistance occurs as a result of natural selection. - microorganisms that cause diseases have the ability to mutate naturally as a mode of survival against antibiotics.

The Truth (Or at Least the Known Truth)

References Center for Veterinary Medicine. “Guidance for Industry - FDA's Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance. ” U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page, Center for Veterinary Medicine, 14 Feb. 2017. www. fda. gov/animalveterinary/ guidancecomplianceenforcement/guidanceforindustry/ucm 216939. htm. Ferry, Beth, et al. “Don't Wait, Be Ready! New Antibiotic Rules for 2017. ” MSU Extension, Michigan State University Extension Office, 29 Mar. 2016, msue. anr. msu. edu/news/dont_wait_be_ready_new_antibiotic_rules_for_2017. Landers, Timothy F. , et al. “A Review of Antibiotic Use in Food Animals: Perspective, Policy, and Potential. ” Public Health Reports, Association of Schools of Public Health, 2012, www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/pmc/articles/PMC 3234384/.