FDA takes significant steps to address antimicrobial resistance

FDA NEWS RELEASE

 

For Immediate Release: Wed. Dec. 11, 2013

Media Inquiries: Shelly Burgess, 301-796-4651, shelly.burgess@fda.hhs.gov or Juli Putnam, 240-402-0537,JuliAnn.Putnam@fda.hhs.gov

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FDA takes significant steps to address antimicrobial resistance

Agency implementing plan to ensure judicious use of antibiotics in food animals

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today is implementing a plan to help phase out the use of medically important antimicrobials in food animals for food production purposes, such as to enhance growth or improve feed efficiency. The plan would also phase in veterinary oversight of the remaining appropriate therapeutic uses of such drugs. 

 

Certain antimicrobials have historically been used in the feed or drinking water of cattle, poultry, hogs, and other food animals for production purposes such as using less food to gain weight. Some of these antimicrobials are important drugs used to treat human infection, prompting concerns about the contribution of this practice to increasing the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the effects of a drug. Once antimicrobial resistance occurs, a drug may no longer be as effective in treating various illnesses or infections.

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