Practical aspects of antibiotic resistance in veterinary medicine.

The two means of using antibiotics, as a growth-promoting feed additive in animal husbandry and as an antimicrobial agent in veterinary medicine, have been discussed and the respective regulations established in Europe concer ning proper use and consumer health protection have been examined. The effe ct of bacterial resistance to antibiotics basically concerns those antimicr obial agents which lead to the selection of resistant strains and to therap eutic failure. To prolong the efficacy of antibiotic drugs, European veteri nary organizations recommend a judicious use of the product in question, an d propose certain guidelines. Careful monitoring at every level - individua l, national, and European - is essential in determining appropriate drug pr escription. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.