Although use of antibiotics to promote livestock growth can foster the emergence of bacteria immune to those drugs, an expert panel concluded that the problem does not yet appear to constitute an immediate health concern.

References:

1998. The use of drugs in food animals: Benefits and risks. National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine Report. July. Washington, D.C.

1997. The medical impact of the use of antimicrobials in food animals. WHO Meeting Report. October. Berlin. (Available at http://www.who.ch/emc/diseases/zoo/zoo97_4.html)

Wierup, M. 1998. Preventive methods replace antibiotic growth promoters: Ten years experience from Sweden. Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics Newsletter 16(July).

1998. Major gaps in research on antibiotic resistance need filling. WHO Press Release (June 9). (Available at http://www.who.ch/inf-pr-1998/en/pr98-46.html)

1997. Foodborne diseases — possibly 350 times more frequent than reported. WHO Press Release (Aug. 13). (Available at http://www.who.ch/inf-pr-1997/en/pr97-58.html)

1997. Monitoring antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals in Europe. EuroSurveillance 2(March). (Available at http://www.b3e.jussieu.fr/ceses/EuroSurv/v2n3/en9-223.html)

Glynn, M.K., et al. 1998. Emergence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium DT104 infections in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine 338(May 7):1333.

Levy, S.B. 1998. Multidrug resistance — A sign of the times. New England Journal of Medicine 338(May 7):1376.

Lieberman, P.B., and M.G. Wootan. Protecting the crown jewels of medicine: A strategic plan to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics. Center for Science in the Public Interest Report (May 28).

Raloff, J. 1998. Drugged waters. Science News 153(March 21):187.

Seachrist, L. 1996. Infections making a deadly comeback. Science News 149(Jan. 20):38.

Seppa, N. 1998. Survey finds wide resistance to TB drugs. Science News 153(June 6):359.

______. 1998. Ulcer bacterium’s drug resistance unmasked. Science News 153(April 25):262.

______. 1997. A new gap in the antibiotic arsenal. Science News 151(June 7):348.

Smaglik, P. 1997. Proliferation of pills. Science News 151(May 17):310.

Sources:

Frederick J. Angulo
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Mailstop A38, 1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333

George W. Beran
Iowa State University
2134 Veterinary Medicine
Ames, IA 50011

Stuart B. Levy
Center for Adaptation Genetics and Drug Resistance
Tufts Medical School
136 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02111

Patricia B. Lieberman
Center for Science in the Public Interest
1875 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009-5728
Website: http://www.cspinet.org

Kathleen Young
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
P.O. Box 1372
Boston, MA 02117
E-mail: APUA@opal.tufts.edu

Back to Table of Contents - 7/18/98