Dutch veterinarians stop using cephalosporins in poultry

Following is the growing concern about the prevalence of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL)-carrying bacteria in broilers, the Poultry Health Department of the Royal Dutch Society for Veterinary Medicine (KNMvD) urged veterinarians to stop using cephalosporins in poultry.

ESBL is a collective term for a group of enzymes made by bacteria. These enzymes are able to make antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporins ineffective.

The occurrence of ESBLs in animals is a risk to public health. Cephalosporins are used in humans who have severe bacterial infections used. Often the antibiotic is used in humans as a last resort against multi-resistant bacteria.

Prudent use in animals is therefore required. Furthermore, in Europe there is no maximum residue limit (MRL) for cephalosporins in poultry. The MRL is used to determine the waiting time for poultry meat after use of antibiotics.

Source: KNMvD