Page 36 of articles about antimicrobial

A new Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) survey has shown no human health implications from antimicrobial resistance in New Zealand food-producing animals and fresh produce.

Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria linked to a wide range of human diseases, are present in meat and poultry from U.S. grocery stores at unexpectedly high rates, according to a nationwide study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

Pig farmers with big farms located in areas with many pigs use more than the average amount of antibiotics. Farms with pigs and other animals also tend to use more antibiotics than specialized pig farms. These are the research results of Ine van der Fels-Klerx of Rikilt. Together with LEI, she examined the business factors which influence antibiotics use.

In the present report, the EU overall assessment includes all animal/animal product categories and is presented for each main substance group. In the previous reports this included only livestock animals.

South Korea plans to ban the mixing of antibiotics with animal feed from July in an effort to raise consumer trust in the safety of livestock products, Yonhap news agency reported quoting the government as saying Tuesday.

Resistance to antibiotics in livestock and pets has become a huge issue in recent years. To cope with this growing problem and the consequent treatment failures, Parliament issued a call on Thursday for more research and better monitoring of the effects of antimicrobials on food-producing animals and pets. It would also help if antibiotics were used less, stress MEPs.

Danish Minister for Health and minister of Food have agreed to make the fight against antibiotic resistance one of their top priorities when Denmark takes over EU presidency.

The American Veterinary Medical Assn. (AVMA) has created a committee specifically to provide input to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on policies and regulations governing veterinarians’ involvement in the use of antimicrobials in food animals.

FIDIN, the association for the suppliers of animal drugs, recently announced that antibiotics use fell by 12 percent in 2010, following a fall of two percent in the previous year. That is good news. The government wants use of antibiotics this year to be 20 percent less than in 2009, and to have halved in 2013.

A resolution drafted by Agriculture Committee Chair Paolo de Castro calls for better research and analysis of the impact and more prudent use of antimicrobials in animals.

In 2009, the total antimicrobial sales have decreased of 13 % (159 tons) compared to 2008 and the sales have decreased of 19.3 % (255 tons) compared to 1999. The 2009 sales represent the lowest sales volume recorded during the 11 years period.