Restricted and Prohibited Uses of Antimicrobial Agents in Food Animals

4 RESTRICTED AND PROHIBITED USES OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS IN FOOD ANIMALS 

The therapeutic use of a very small number of antimicrobials in food-producing animals is prohibited because of public health concerns. The drugs involved are found on the websites of the regulatory authorities. In the United 

Antimicrobial drug use in food animal production is fundamental to animal health and well-being and to the economics of the livestock industry. Therefore the pmdent use of antimicrobials is critically important because few new drugs are entering the market, and existing uses need to be preserved for as long as is practicable. Pmdent use will minimize the development of antimicrobial resistance and maximize therapeutic effect. When introducing new products onto the market, pharmaceutical companies need to mle out the presence of cross-resistance to old products 

The author wishes to thank APVMA Science Fellow Professor Mary Barton and Professor Peter Lees for their comments on this manuscript. The assistance of Dr. Cheryl Javro with preparation of the figure and tables is gratefully acknowledged. 

Barton MD, Peng H, Epidemiology of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and Genes in Piggeries, report to Australian Pork Ltd., 2005. 

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