SuperbugsMajor drop in antibiotics for food animals in U.S.
New data released the other day by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows the amount of medically important antibiotics sold for use in food-producing animals in the United States is on the decline. The FDA report shows that domestic sales and distribution of medically important antibiotics for use in livestock decreased by 33 percent from 2016 through 2017, and by 43 percent since sales peaked in 2015.
New data released the other day by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows the amount of medically important antibiotics sold for use in food-producing animals in the United States is on the decline.
The FDA report shows that domestic sales and distribution of medically important antibiotics for use in livestock decreased by 33 percent from 2016 through 2017, and by 43 percent since sales peaked in 2015. Since 2009, the first year the FDA started collecting and reporting the data, sales have declined by 28 percent. The totals represent only sales and distribution data and don’t reflect how the drugs were used in animals.
The 2017 summary report is the first issued since the FDA’s new rules on the use of medically important antibiotics in food-animal production were fully implemented. Under Guidance for Industry (GFI) #213, which went into effect Jan 1, 2017, antibiotics that are important for human medicine can no longer be used for growth promotion or feed efficiency in cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and other food animals.
In addition, 95 percent of the medically important antibiotics used in animal water and feed for therapeutic purposes now require veterinary oversight and can no longer be purchased over the counter.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said he’s encouraged by the sales trends reflected in the report.
“These reductions are an indication that our ongoing efforts to support antimicrobial stewardship are having a significant impact,” Gottlieb said in a statement.
Use declines in all animals
CIDRAP reports that the clearest impact is on sales of antibiotics used for growth promotion, which dropped from 5.7 million kilograms (kg) in 2016 to 0 kg in 2017. Over-the-counter sales declined dramatically as well, from 8 million kg in 2016 to 271,280 kg in 2017.
There was also a decrease in most of the medically important drug classes sold for use in food-producing animals. Tetracyclines, which account for nearly two thirds of all antibiotics sold for use in livestock, fell by 40 percent compared with 2016, while sales of aminoglycosides, penicillin, and macrolides dropped by 19 percent, 18 percent, and 15 percent, respectively. Sales of
