Antibiotic Resistance and the Relationship to Use in Livestock

Abstract

Understanding therapeutic and subtherapeutic (nontherapeutic) antibiotic use in livestock is essential since misuse may lead to emergence of antibiotic resistance and treatment failure and/or death in livestock or humans. Regulatory approval of antibiotic uses must focus on decreasing emergence of antimicrobial resistance worldwide while using surveillance of antibiotic resistance occurrence and environmental effects of antibiotics. Regulatory bodies protect public health and food safety, assess, communicate and manage risk and develop policy for new drug approvals. Risk assessments indicate withdrawing animal antibiotics could cause more human illness-days than it would prevent. Disadvantages to human and animal health may outweigh actual dangers associated with banning animal antibiotics.