CDC’s Antibiotic resistance threats in the United States (2013)

Improving Antibiotic Use
Antibiotics are widely used in food-producing animals, and according to data published by FDA, there are more kilograms of antibiotics sold in the United States for food- producing animals than for people. (http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForIndustry/UserFees/
AnimalDrugUserFeeActADUFA/UCM338170.pdf ). This use contributes to the emergenceof antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals. Resistant bacteria in food-producing animals are of particular concern because these animals serve as carriers.

Resistant bacteria can contaminate the foods that come from those animals, and people who consume these foods can develop antibiotic-resistant infections. Antibiotics must be used judiciously in humans and animals because both uses contribute to not only the emergence, but also the persistence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Scientists around the world have provided strong evidence that antibiotic use in food-producing animals can harm public health through the following sequence of events:
■■ Use of antibiotics in food-producing animals allows antibiotic-resistant bacteria to thrive while susceptible bacteria are suppressed or die.
■■ Resistant bacteria can be transmitted from food-producing animals to humans through the food supply.
■■ Resistant bacteria can cause infections in humans.
■■ Infections caused by resistant bacteria can result in adverse health consequences for humans.

Because of the link between antibiotic use in food-producing animals and the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant infections in humans, antibiotics should be used in food-producing animals only under veterinary oversight and only to manage and treat infectious diseases, not to promote growth. CDC encourages and supports efforts to minimize inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals, including FDA’s strategy to promote the judicious use of antibiotics that are important in treating humans (http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/AntimicrobialResistance/JudiciousUseofAntimicrobials/default.htm). CDC supports FDA’s plan to implement draft guidance in 2013 that will operationalize this strategy(http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/
GuidanceComplianceEnforcement/GuidanceforIndustry/UCM299624.pdf ). CDC has also contributed to a training curriculum for veterinarians on prudent antibiotic use in animals. CDC’s efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing in humans are described in other sections of
this report.

~Pages 36-37 of the Report