November 18-24, 2020 marks the annual World Antibiotic Awareness Week (see sidebar). Once again, the American Association of Swine Veterinarians is pleased to participate by sharing swine veterinarians’ antibiotic awareness activities.
Slowing the development of resistance and preserving the effectiveness of antimicrobials for use in animals and humans are priorities for swine veterinarians. Antimicrobial resistance is a global, urgent One Health problem and threatens animal, human, and environmental health.
Antimicrobials also save lives. In addition to other disease prevention, control, and treatment strategies, judicious and responsible use of antimicrobials have a positive impact on animal health, animal welfare, and public health. They are a necessary therapeutic tool in swine populations to maintain a safe and secure pork supply. It is essential that we preserve their effectiveness by acting as stewards and using antimicrobials judiciously only when medically necessary, for a specific purpose, at the right dose, for the correct frequency and duration, and by the appropriate route of administration.
During 2019, AASV made a commitment to the Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge, a yearlong international effort to accelerate the fight against antimicrobial resistance. At that time, AASV pledged to continue providing swine veterinarians the resources, information, and knowledge they need to use antimicrobials judiciously and promote stewardship among producers, which includes veterinary oversight, use data collection, and disease prevention. Read more about AASV’s 2019 commitment at cdc.gov/drugresistance/intl-activities/amr-challenge.html.
The AASV Pharmaceutical Issues Committee continuously addresses issues with antimicrobial use and resistance and has been busy accomplishing goals set during the last year. In 1999, the AASV, an early leader in developing guidelines for the judicious use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine, published the first Basic Guidelines of Judicious Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobials in Pork Production. Following earlier revisions in 2004 and 2014, the Pharmaceutical Issues Committee again reevaluated and revised those guidelines during 2020.
To represent the interests of swine veterinarians and advocate for the health of the pig, AASV is imbedded in conversations with other organizations where discussions and decisions about judicious use and stewardship are made. We work closely with other pork organizations to build relationships and discuss antimicrobial use with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other agencies and stakeholders.
With input from the Pharmaceutical Issues Committee, the AASV responded to FDA during multiple public commenting periods during 2020. The AASV described the clinical importance of carbadox and encouraged FDA to use science-based decisions when considering revoking the approval method of carbadox. In response to a question FDA posed about transit and withdrawal times, the AASV provided answers to help FDA understand current industry practices and swine veterinarians’ interpretation of labels. We requested that future labeling be explicit and based in science and evidence. The AASV supported FDA’s list of bulk drug substances for compounding drugs for poison antidotes for food-producing animals and requested that bulk drug substances used to compound drugs for depopulation and euthanasia be included on that list. The AASV is currently reviewing the recently proposed National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System 2021-2025 Strategic Plan and will submit comments that emphasize and prioritize pig health.
The AASV also works closely with allied veterinary organizations. Two AASV member representatives sit on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Antimicrobials. Those two AASV member representatives were instrumental in developing and reviewing the AVMA Committee on Antimicrobials’ Antimicrobial Resistant Pathogens Affecting Animal Health in the United States report released in August 2020.
Led by Dr Peter Davies, then AASV Alternate Representative on the AVMA Committee on Antimicrobials, Drs Clayton Johnson, Locke Karriker, Jon Tangen, Connie Gebhart, and Joe Fent formed an expert swine health working group to provide a list of priority pathogens associated with disease in swine for which antimicrobial resistance is prevalent and poses a threat to the ability to effectively treat swine.
The comprehensive report details the impact of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria on different animal species in the United States. The report includes actions that veterinarians and other stakeholders can take to collaboratively combat antimicrobial resistance. The report consists of three sections:
- an overview of antimicrobial resistance impact on animal health in the United States,
- host species-specific summaries of pathogens of concern, and
- a technical appendix.
The report can be accessed at avma.org/ resources-tools/one-health/antimicrobial-use-and-antimicrobial-resistance/antimicrobial-resistant-pathogens-affecting-animal-health.
The AASV continues to advocate for science-based approaches to veterinary and public health issues, including antimicrobial resistance, by promoting antimicrobial stewardship, creating and sharing resources for veterinarians, and prioritizing the health and welfare of the pig. Join us in participating in World Antibiotic Awareness Week by sharing stories and activities you do as a veterinarian to promote antimicrobial stewardship.
Abbey Canon, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Director of Public Health and Communications