Antibiotics are used worldwide both in veterinary and human medicine. The widespread use has heightened concerns about the emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which impacts animal welfare, public health, food safety and environmental exposure. For example, the frequent occurrence of MRSA, the rapid increase of ESBLs and the recent outbreaks of EHECs have become a serious public health problem.
In recent years there has been a lot of debate about the use of antibiotics in animals. There has been much pressure to proscribe their non-therapeutic use and to remove antimicrobial growth promoters from the market. The European Union has already banned the feeding of antibiotics for growth promotion purposes. Restricting the range of antibiotics used in animals to those not regarded as important in human medicine or even prohibiting antibiotic use in animals has also been advocated as a means to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
To reduce the overall use of antibiotics in animals responsible use is becoming increasingly promoted. Many national and international organisations, associations and federations associated with animal, human and public health have begun to develop guidelines, principles and other activities on responsible use of antibiotics.
An international conference on Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Animals, will be held in Egmond aan Zee, The Netherlands, on 14-16 November 2011. The objectives of the International Conference on Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Animals are:
- to give an overview of the current status and ongoing activities with respect to the issue of antibiotic use in animals and antimicrobial resistance;
- to learn about the expectations of different parties involved;
- to identify the areas which need further action with respect to the current scientific knowledge and political expectations; and
- to identify possibilities for effective actions, including effective co-ordination of activities.
Further information: http://www.bastiaanse-communication.com/html/rua_2011.html
Latest programme: http://www.bastiaanse-communication.com/html/rua_2011_programme.html
