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Concern over the use of antibiotics in livestock

New research conducted by the German science agency, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment(BfR), has shown that resistance to antibiotics is increasing, which has sparked concerns regarding the amount of drugs used in the rearing of livestock.  

The BfR are now advising, “in order to prevent a further increase in resistances, the use of antibiotics should be limited to the absolutely necessary extent both in human and in veterinary medicine”.

Treating diseased livestock with antibiotics is a common practice in modern farming, as is the practice of giving cows, sheep and other animals regular doses of antibiotics as a method of promoting growth. But there is a growing concern, from scientists and policy makers, over the excessive uses of such treatment. The argument stems from the idea that emerging microbes will become resistant to antibiotics, rendering the curative drug impotent.

Two assessments have been made by the National Reference Laboratories for Salmonella and Antibiotic Resistance at the BfR, which reported a high resistance to antibiotics in the food chain. The research used data from criteria between 2000 and 2008 and found that strains of salmonella, E coli and Campylobacter, originated mainly from animals and foods, showed higher resistance rates against antibiotics.

“Of the 33,625 isolates, 48% were resistant to at least one and 35% even resistant to more than one class of antibiotics.” The research asserted.

The issue worsens when considering the fact that resistant pathogens can pass on the resistance to other pathogens, in this way the pool of resistance is extended and the risk for humans and animals increases.

"Resistances to pathogens in animals and foods are a serious problem in consumer health protection," said BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel.
 

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