The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it is soliciting comments from the public on the use of antimicrobial drugs in companion animals. Specifically, FDA is interested in learning whether the use of such drugs has resulted in microorganisms—like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—becoming resistant to them. FDA hopes to engage with stakeholders, particularly veterinarians, and use the information they provide to develop and implement a strategy for promoting antimicrobial stewardship in companion animals.
Antimicrobial drugs have been widely used in human and veterinary medicine for more than 80 years. A reduction or loss in the drugs’ effectiveness poses a serious threat to animal and human health. Developing and promoting coordinated antimicrobial stewardship programs are believed to improve patient outcomes, reduce microbial resistance, and decrease the spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.
Click here to download FDA’s full request for comment. The notice includes questions for commenters to consider and instructions on how to comment.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) believes a strong relationship between AKC, the veterinary community, and public policy makers is essential to further the understanding among veterinary groups and purebred dog fanciers and to contribute to the continuous development of best practices to safeguard animal, human, and environmental health. To that end, AKC Government Relations (GR) will continue to provide information and updates on this important health effort. For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.