Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 11/16/15


In a new technical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the group is spotlighting what it said is a major cause of antimicrobial-resistant infections in humans: the “overuse” of antibiotics in animal agriculture.
The report, “Nontherapeutic Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Animal Agriculture: Implications for Pediatrics,” will be published in the December issue of Pediatrics.

“The fact remains that a number of studies show that low doses of antibiotics for poultry, pork, beef and other animal species do end up in getting (the animals) to market weight sooner than they otherwise would, which means farmers need to use less feed,” Jerome A. Paulson, report co-author, said in a news release.

Each year, antimicrobial-resistant infections cause more than 2 million Americans to become ill and 23,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National health care system costs range from $21 billion to $34 billion annually, with 8 million hospital days.
Antibiotic use in food animals has been linked to antimicrobial-resistant infections like campylobacter, salmonella, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli infections, according to the AAP.
It's complicated

The issue is a complex one, and the extent to which antibiotics use in food animals impacts antimicrobial-resistant infections has long been debated.

The North American Meat Institute discusses the issue in detail on its website.

NAMI makes the point that most human antibiotic-resistant infections are acquired in hospitals and other residential health care facilities. It also notes that bacteria on meat and poultry, whether antibiotic resistant or not, are destroyed through cooking.
In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration asked livestock and poultry producers to phase out use of antibiotics for growth purposes, a request meat industry groups have supported.

The National Pork Board debuted on Monday a new infographic to explain antibiotic use on pig farms.

“[W]e work closely with veterinarians to make sure we’re using antibiotics only when necessary for the health and well-being of our animals,” NPB President Derrick Sleezer said in a news release. “We realize that today’s consumers want to know how their food is produced and that it’s safe for their families. This is why we’re reaching out and telling people how we keep animals healthy to produce safe food. This infographic is one way we will achieve that goal.”
“Get Smart” week kicks off

The AAP report comes at the same time as the Obama Administration is launching its “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week.”

“Antibiotic resistance is one of the deadliest health threats facing the world,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden said in a news release. “These pledges will help protect the antibiotics we have so we can use these miracle drugs to save lives for years to come.”

Among the week’s news and events are:
• A Pew coalition of “Supermoms against Superbugs” will join the Pew Charitable Trust and CDC Director Frieden at a Capitol Hill Briefing on Nov. 18.
• Hosted by the European Union’s Antibiotic Awareness Day (Nov. 18), a 24-hour Twitter chat will use the hashtag #AntibioticResistance and unite CDC experts and partners in a global conversation about antibiotic resistance. CDC experts will lead the conversation from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. 
• CDC is partnering with Consumer Reports and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Foundation in support of the “Choosing Wisely” campaign, designed to educate consumers on “avoiding wasteful or unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures.”

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