Antibiotics in animals and people webinar now online
University of Illinois professor of animal sciences Jim Pettigrew and fellow members of the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) caught the attention of many with a webinar titled, “Antibiotics in Animals and People.”
Due to a limited delivery system, only 100 people from academia, industry and government were allowed to attend this webinar. Because of the overwhelming interest in this topic, FASS has made the webinar available at their website, www.fass.org.
Pettigrew, a member of the FASS Science Policy Committee, served as the lead coordinator for the recently approved FASS policy statement on antibiotics.
He said, “The body of knowledge now available shows that all uses of antibiotics, whether in people or in animals, can contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. It’s important to limit the use of these very beneficial products as much as feasible.”
However, recent experience shows that restrictions on antibiotic use in animals should be carefully targeted to have maximum impact, he said.
“A broad prohibition on use of antibiotics to prevent disease has, in some cases, increased the amount used for disease treatment and has not minimised total antibiotic use,” Pettigrew said. “This can be detrimental to animal welfare and to efficiency of resource use.”
Billy Hargis, a poultry scientist from the University of Arkansas, provides an overview of the issues and science surrounding the antibiotics debate. The webinar concludes with Bill Flynn of the Food and Drug Administration discussing the agency’s perspectives on antibiotic use in animals, including its recently released guidance on judicious use.
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