CALS Honors ALS 398 Undergraduate Research Poster

1. ABSTRACT
The use of veterinary pharmaceuticals in food animal
Microbial Resistance and the Consequences of
production is a controversial and ongoing issue with regard to
human and animal health. Antibiotics, also known as antimicrobial
drugs, are used in food animal production for disease prevention,
therapeutics, overall health, and growth promotion. Bacterial
Pharmaceuticals in Animal Production Agriculture
Jodie Joseph, Lacey White, Sara Reichelt, Jennifer Cook, Alicia Braxton, AlyWorf, Danielle Lindquist,
resistance to antimicrobial drugs is an evolutionary mechanism
that has been observed prior to the implementation of antimicrobial
Michelle Borges, KiraPruitt, ShinHaeYoon, Brooke Reimer, HernantDesai
use in animal agriculture. It has been argued that the use of Mentor : Dr. Michael Williams
antibiotics has expedited this innate characteristic. Overuse of North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Honors Program
antimicrobial drugs in human and animal therapies has been shown
to lead to increased resistance and decreased effectiveness. The
purpose of this research committee is to consider the perspectives
of the livestock industry, public health organizations, veterinarians, RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLIC HEALTH & PROTOCOL1
and physicians and subsequently recommend actions that should
be taken to determine the proper use of veterinary pharmaceuticals
in animal production agriculture. After consulting with various
The recommendations of this committee are as follows: The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, states that using
experts in these disciplines and reviewing the peer reviewed antimicrobials in food producing animals is decided from two main
scientific literature, the committee’s consensus is that the judicious The judicious and responsible use of antibiotics should continue to be reasons: How important this drug/drug class is to human health
use of antimicrobial drugs in animal agricultural should continue to regulated to protect both human and animal health. and if the pathogens from food producing animals are a potential
be regulated, but more extensive research should be conducted threat.
and increased surveillance should be implemented before an Increased financial support is needed for more research on the actual
FDA believes that proposed uses of antimicrobials in food-
absolute regulatory policy can be decided. effect of antimicrobial resistance in food animals on human health.
producing animals can be placed into one of three main categories
based on the importance of the drug or drug class in human
Increased surveillance of microbial resistance is needed to monitor the medicine. these categories would aid the agency in evaluating the
8 STEPS TO MICROBIAL RESISTANCE patterns of microbial resistance. potential microbial human health impact of the use of the
TRANSFER antimicrobial drug in food-producing animals and determine the
Increase awareness and education of the public on the issue of long term effects on human and animal health.
Development of resistant animal bacterial strain
antimicrobial resistance through educational programs and • Category I Drugs human exposure to resistant bacteria from
propaganda. animals must be avoided or extensively minimized
• Category II Drugs level of increased resistance in humans due
Survival through food processing/handling This committee has found no significant evidence of a detrimental affect on to use of the drug in food-producing animals could safely occur
human health caused by antimicrobial resistance in food animals. Stopping the • Category III Drugs: resistance transfer from animals to humans
Hurdles for Transfer
Hurdles for Transfer
use of antibiotics entirely has no benefit for human health, and it has not would have no effect on the availability of effective antimicrobial
Survival through food preparation
proven to be cost effective in countries where the change has been made, such drugs to treat human diseases.
as Denmark. These decisions must be made based on scientific evidence and
an analysis of the risks and benefits to all parties involved.
Resistance transfer to human
Colonization in human
PHYSICIAN PERSPECTIVE5
Disease
Many physicians believe that most of the problems associated with
antibiotic resistance in humans arise from human errors.
Unsuccessful Interviews conducted of physicians brought the following ideas:
Treatment
•The use of antibiotics in food animals prevent food-borne
4 illnesses.
THE DENMARK EXPERIENCE1
VETERINARIAN PERSPECTIVE •Bacterial resistance is a part of evolution.
•The main concern for bacterial resistance is in hospitals where
multiple-drug resistance can develop. •In 1998, the Danish government issued a voluntary ban on the use
A majority of veterinarians in the industry are in support of antibiotic growth promotants (AGPs) during the finishing stage of
of the use of antibiotics in the food animal industry. There have •Measures to prevent further resistance must be taken in hospitals:
Food borne campylobacter continues more isolation, increased hand washing and dress changing, shoe pork production.
been no confirmed cases of human resistance due to the use of
to show resistance to antibiotics covers, gloves, etc. •The use of AGPs was banned for all swine in 2000. Known as the
these antibiotics. Veterinarians make it clear that they do not
use extravagant amounts of antibiotics in the use of treatment considered critical to Human •A decrease in antibiotics prescribed in private practices and Danish Experience, the cons of this ban have proven to outweigh
for a whole herd or flock when only one animal has been Medicine. This growth clearly shows urgent cares the benefits as there have been numerous animal health and well-
affected. Prevention is the main goal of all veterinary medicine that antibiotic resistance continued to •Research for new antibiotics needs to be done to reduce the risks being consequences.
in the food animal industry. associated with the existing and the newly arising strains of •As of now, there is no evidence that a ban such as this would
grow even after the ban on antibiotic resistant bacteria. protect public health or combat antimicrobial resistance.
antimicrobial resistance was set into
law in Denmark.
INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE3 REFERENCES
Industry advocates limited and responsible use of antibiotics, “only 1. FDA Framework Document
http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Everyone%20Else/images/baby-pig.jpg
for treating sick and preventing the onset of sickness with proper http://patervis.com/poultry.jpg
diagnostic confirmation.” Strictly comply to all FDA regulations and http://www.dennisflood.com/photos/2003/1000/dairy_cows.jpg
2.” Murphy Brown’s Commitment to Responsible Use of Antibiotics”
adhere to USDA withdrawal times. To ensure proper health, rely on http://smithfieldfoods.com/responsibility/smithfield-antibiotic-policy.aspx
3. Smithfield Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2009-2010, pages 54-55.
“enhanced management practices” rather than heavy antibiotic use. 4. Dr. Eric Gonder, DVM, PhD, Veterinarian with Butterball, LLC
5. Dr. Christopher A. Ohl, M.D., Associate Professor, Infectious Diseases
Smithfield Farms, the number one swine producer in the nation, 6. Dr. Jennifer Koeman DVM, M.S. Public Health, director of producer and public health, National Pork Board
does not use antibiotics for growth promotion. 7. Dr. Peter Robert Davies, BVS, PhD, MBA, Professor, Swine Health and Production
8. Dr. Glen Almond, PhD, DVM, professor of Pig Health and Production
9. Dr. Andy McRee, DVM, Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians