L. Tollefson et al., THERAPEUTIC ANTIBIOTICS IN ANIMAL FEEDS AND ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE, Revue scientifique et technique - Office international des epizooties, 16(2), 1997, pp. 709-715
Recent statutory changes involving animal drugs are expected to facili
tate the therapeutic use of antibiotics in animal feeds in the United
States of America. The use of antibiotics in animal feeds is controver
sial due to the potential development of resistant bacterial pathogens
in food-producing animals which are exposed to the antibiotics and th
e resultant public health risk. Zoonotic micro-organisms can be transm
itted to humans through contact with animal populations, either direct
ly or through the consumption of contaminated food. Recommendations to
address the public health concerns include the strengthening of profe
ssional education in the areas of infectious diseases and the appropri
ate selection and use of antimicrobial agents, the development of a co
mprehensive food safety education programme for food-animal veterinari
ans and animal producers, and the development of surveillance programm
es to monitor antimicrobial resistance among zoonotic pathogens. Early
identification of emerging resistance can facilitate a timely and app
ropriate public health response.