Reading Time: < 1 minute The Alberta Veterinary Medical Association has launched a campaign called Raised with Care to inform livestock producers about upcoming changes to antimicrobial regulations and livestock production practices. “Controlling the spread of (antibiotic) resistance is essential if we hope to retain our access to these tools that save countless human and animal lives,” the association said […] Read more
New website focuses on antimicrobial resistance
Antibiotic resistance threat can’t be dismissed, say experts
Antibiotic use in cattle doesn’t appear to be a threat to human medicines, but their use must still be curbed
Reading Time: 3 minutes Despite intense scrutiny, there’s little evidence that antibiotic use in the cattle industry is increasing resistance to human medicines. But it could be causing increased resistance to antibiotics used to treat cattle, say two experts. There’s no question that using antibiotics increases the odds of bacteria becoming resistant, said Reynold Bergen, science director of the […] Read more
U.K. review calls for urgent cuts to antibiotic use in livestock
London | Reuters –– Massive use of antibiotics in farming poses a critical threat to global public health and should be reduced dramatically to an internationally-agreed target, according to a British government-commissioned review. Agreeing and implementing a global target for agricultural antibiotic use won’t be easy, the review, led by former Goldman Sachs chief economist […] Read more
Hog farmers more likely to carry resistant bacteria, U.S. study shows
Chicago | Reuters — Hog farmers are six times more likely than the general population to carry an infectious bacteria that can cause skin and respiratory problems and resists treatment from multiple drugs, according to a new U.S. research study. The study, published this week in the online journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, is the largest-ever […] Read more
Antimicrobial resistance in livestock a global threat: WHO
Resistance is developing because of farm use of antimicrobials
Reading Time: < 1 minute While Canadian farms haven’t been shown to be a source of bacteria resistant to human medicines, tests at abattoirs have found up to 70 per cent of bacteria are resistant to tetracycline, says veterinarian and consultant Dr. Leigh Rosengren. That shows resistance is developing because of farm use of antimicrobials. And that’s a major concern […] Read more
U.S. meat industry bought more human antibiotics to 2013, FDA says
Chicago | Reuters –– Sales of medically important antibiotics in the U.S. for use in livestock jumped by 20 per cent between 2009 and 2013, federal regulators said on Friday, although recent statements by producers suggest those figures could be dropping. Between 2012 and 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said its annual report, […] Read more
Records show powerful antibiotic for cattle often misused by farmers
Ceftiofur accounted for one-fourth of USDA drug-residue violation reports in 2013
Reading Time: 3 minutes It is one of the most potent antibiotics used by U.S. cattle and dairy farmers. But the strength of the ceftiofur and the frequency with which it’s being misused has created a threat to human health that may overshadow the drug’s effectiveness, a Reuters examination shows. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautioned in 2012 […] Read more
Farmaceuticals: Powerful antibiotic for cows often misused by farmers
New York/Atlanta | Reuters — It is one of the most potent antibiotics used by U.S. cattle and dairy farmers, the key component in the top-selling drug line of Zoetis, the world’s largest animal health company. But the strength of the antibiotic ceftiofur — and the frequency with which it’s being misused on farms across […] Read more
‘Superbugs’ that can overpower antibiotics are spreading — WHO
With antibiotic resistance rife across world, a WHO expert says ‘world is headed for post-antibiotic era’
Reading Time: 2 minutes The spread of deadly superbugs that evade even the most powerful antibiotics is no longer a prediction but is happening right now across the world, say UN officials. Antibiotic resistance has the potential to affect anyone, of any age, in any country, the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) said in a report. It is now […] Read more
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