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AVMA agrees with cephlasporin restrictions
On Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a rule limiting the extralabel use of the antimicrobial cephlasporins in cattle, hogs, chickens and turkeys. This is actually a revised version of a stricter rule first published then withdrawn in 2008. Dr. Christine Hoang Assistant Director of the Scientific Activities Division with the American Veterinary Medical Association says the 2008 rule was much too restrictive while this one is consistent with AVMA policy. “We believe there should be a limited prohibition on extralabel drug use such that it protects public health and animal welfare.”
Dr. Hoang says the restrictions do limit veterinarians somewhat but it doesn’t leave a big gap in the tool box and it does not affect an over-the-counter version. That is an older form of cephalosporin which is for intramammary use and does not contribute to antimicrobial resistance.
As for concerns that this may open the door for other antimicrobials to be removed from animal use, “We work very closely with the FDA and we have not heard anything to that effect whatsoever.”
Cephlasporins are used to fight a number of diseases in a variety of food animals and used in humans to treat pneumonia, various infections and inflammations.
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