Use of antibiotic in animal feed

Abstract EN

Antibiotics are used in veterinary medicine for either therapy, prophylaxis or nutrition. One of the major public health problem is that selective pressure of antibiotic use may lead to an increase in resistance.

The therapeutic and prophylactic use of antibiotics has sometimes led to the emergence of resistant bacteria.

The nutritional use has been regulated by several authorities in different countries which demands special investigations into the potential of antibiotics to increase rates of drug resistance.

It should be recognized that antibiotics are not suitable as a compensation for poor hygiene standards or for the eradication of a pathogen from a certain environment.

As the prudent use of antibiotics by clinicians is effective in lowering the emergence of resistant isolates in humans, animal husbandries and poultry farms should be discouraged to use antibiotics as feed supplement in order to minimize acquisition of resistant flora.