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Positive trend Declining antibiotic use in animal husbandry
For years, a massive increase in antibiotics has been reported in agriculture. According to health experts, this is one reason why the fight against super germs is getting more and more complicated. But now indicates a turnaround. As new surveys show, the use of antibiotics in livestock has declined in recent years.
Massive antibiotic use for years in the criticism
For years, a massive use of antibiotics in livestock has been reported repeatedly. This use has long been in the criticism, because more and more bacteria are resistant to the drugs. This is not just a danger to agriculture. As a result, resistance to antibiotics is also feared for human pathogens. In hospitals, infections with dangerous multidrug-resistant germs are becoming more common. An infection can trigger various symptoms in patients such as inflammation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting or blood poisoning. Especially for people with weakened immune systems and for the elderly, MRSA - also called hospital germs - represent an increased risk. In Germany alone, the pathogens responsible for the death of up to 15,000 people each year.
The use of antibiotics in animal husbandry has fallen slightly. (Image: countrypixel / fotolia.com) Trend reversal suggests
One reason for the increase in drug resistance is the improper use of such drugs. Now, there is a trend reversal: In livestock husbandry are now used less antibiotics, as the news agency dpa reports. This emerges from surveys submitted by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin. According to a BfR research project, fattening pigs have been given significantly less antibiotics in recent years. Accordingly, the number of treatments fell from about five days per stall and half year in 2011 to 2014 only one day per place and half year. According to the information, it still has to be researched which background has the latest development.
Bet on antibiotic use in agriculture
"A positive finding from our studies is that antibiotic-resistant germs in the food chain do not continue to increase," said BfR President Andreas Hensel. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 25,000 people in the EU alone die from antibiotic resistance every year. "Overall, there are different ways for humans to come into contact with antibiotic-resistant germs," explained Annemarie Käsbohrer, Head of the Epidemiology, Zoonoses and Antibiotic Resistance Division at the BfR. This could happen in the clinic, but also when dealing with food or its consumption. Whether farmers are more frequently burdened with such germs due to their activities, was in the summer trigger for a bet on the use of antibiotics in agriculture. Farmers in a farming community in the Emsland bet that they are no longer carriers of the hospital germ MRSA than other people. The bet was directed at a local resident initiative against new animal stables. The North German farmers claimed the victory after a few days.
Stricter measures against the spread of dangerous germs
Prof. Lothar Kreienbrock from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, who is carrying out a BfR research project on antibiotics in animal husbandry, said that increasing awareness among farmers could explain the reduced use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. The amended drug law also plays a role. For a year, pet owners have been required to provide information on the use of antibiotics above a certain size. In May of this year, the federal government also passed the new German antibiotic resistance strategy (DART 2020). By doing so, she wants to step up the fight against the misuse of antibiotics and the spread of dangerous germs, both nationally and internationally. Although the drugs have revolutionized the fight against bacterial diseases that previously often resulted in death, over-use or improper use of bacteria has made them more and more resistant to antibiotic drugs such as penicillin. As a result, they are worse or in extreme cases, not more. (Ad)