THE Obama administration needs to live up to its promise to reduce meat and poultry producers’ overuse of antibiotics, which has been linked to the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections among humans. Leading health experts believe that new guidelines are needed to protect consumers from difficult-to-treat illnesses that have been increasing at an alarming rate. Farmers routinely give antibiotics to … cattle, poultry and other animals to treat illnesses, prevent infection and to spur the animals’ growth while giving them less feed. But the types of drugs being fed to livestock are the same as those in medicines for humans. It has been estimated that 70 per cent of all the antibiotics used in this country are given to animals. The overuse of the drugs has created a growing problem in the food supply, which experts say puts the health of Americans at risk, especially children and people who are prone to chronic illnesses.

As a result of their overuse in animals, researchers say antibiotics have become less effective in humans and have created dangerous bacteria, or superbugs, that are more difficult and costly to treat. Last year, 60,000 Americans died in hospitals as a result of antibiotic-resistant infections, according to government estimates. A study cited by the federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that antibiotic infections cost the US healthcare system more than $20bn annually. Europe has banned farmers from feeding antibiotics to livestock since 2006. But similar efforts in the United States have failed. For years, the federal government has asked farmers to voluntarily curb antibiotic use. But curtailing the long-standing practice would likely be costly, a consideration that the administration must take into account in crafting reasonable guidelines that would minimise the economic impact.

More must also be done to limit the use of antibiotics among humans. The CDC estimates that 80 per cent of the antibiotics prescribed to treat respiratory infections were unnecessary. President Obama made a campaign pledge before he was elected to push for new policies that would limit the use of antibiotics in animals to therapeutic purposes only. As recently as June 2010, the Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidelines calling for voluntary measures. But even that effort has stalled. Not surprisingly, the powerful drug industry and agribusiness lobbies, motivated by their bottom lines, have opposed attempts to limit the use of antibiotics. Farm groups dispute mounting scientific evidence that animals’ being fed antibiotics has led to an increase in antibiotic-resistant infections. The government should consider the impact on business interests in addressing this issue. But ultimately, it should take whatever steps are necessary to promote the best health outcomes for the American public. — (Nov 19)