Analysis of How Growth-Promotion Antimicrobial Use Helps Public Health

January 6, 2016 — 

Antimicrobials are important tools for ensuring the health, welfare, and productivity of pigs raised for food. Banning of antimicrobial growth promotant use in Denmark, and subsequently more widely in the EU, has prompted many entities to seek more restricted availability of antimicrobials for food animals in the USA. The primary target for restriction is the use of low dose, long term administration of antimicrobials for "production purposes". Peter Davies' project evaluated the scientific evidence that low dose, long term use of antimicrobials in pig production augments public health risks from antimicrobial resistance. [Source: Dr. Peter Davies, UMN Swine Extension Newsletter, January 2016]

Read further the specifics of Peter Davies literature review regarding antimicrobial use on the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in pathogens in commercial swine populations.