Antimicrobial resistance: a veterinary perspective

The short generation time and ability to exchange genetic material has inevitably resulted in the development of resistance to antimicrobials by many animal bacteria. 1 Nevertheless, some drugs have retained excellent activity against particular target organisms, such as penicillin against Streptoco...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ 1998-09, Vol.317 (7159), p.610-611
Main Author: McKellar, Q A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal care
Antibiotics
Antimicrobial agents
Bacteria
Disease
Drug dosages
Drug resistance
Food contamination & poisoning
Hygiene
Immunization
Medicine
Organisms
Zoonoses
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Summary:The short generation time and ability to exchange genetic material has inevitably resulted in the development of resistance to antimicrobials by many animal bacteria. 1 Nevertheless, some drugs have retained excellent activity against particular target organisms, such as penicillin against Streptococcus agalactia despite extensive use for 40 years. 2 The development of resistance to animal antimicrobials may present a hazard to humans when the resistant bacteria can cause disease in humans and can be transmitted via contaminated food. Furthermore, these antimicrobials are only minimally absorbed after oral administration and thus do not present a risk of residues. Since resistance to the performance enhancing antimicrobial avoparcin may be common with that to vancomycin, 4 5 this drug has recently been withdrawn as a growth promoter inEurope.
ISSN:0959-8138
1468-5833
DOI:10.1136/bmj.317.7159.610