The Food and Drug Administration warns nine online pet suppliers, including the well-known retailer Chewy, about carrying unauthorized “antimicrobial drugs” which include antibiotics like penicillin – making infections more severe in humans.
Main Facts
The FDA has targeted nine pet suppliers for selling unauthorized antimicrobial drugs, primarily for aquarium fish and birds, which use medications also employed in human medicine, including amoxicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin.
Public health experts say that excessive use of antimicrobial drugs has contributed to the rise of resistant infections as bacteria and other microorganisms become more resistant to these medications.
Background
Antimicrobial drugs are used daily by doctors to treat infections caused by bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms. However, researchers are concerned that the overuse of these drugs leads to microbes developing resistance to them, which occurs when microorganisms develop immunity to the drugs. The FDA states, “When antibiotics are used excessively or inappropriately, the rate of this resistance increases.” This can happen with the use of these drugs by both animals and humans. The World Health Organization estimates that antibiotic-resistant microbes were responsible for 1.27 million deaths in 2019 and contributed to the deaths of an additional 4.95 million cases.
Stunning Fact
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States witnesses approximately 2.8 million cases of antimicrobial-resistant infections annually. These cases led to the deaths of 35,000 people in 2019, according to the agency’s threat report.
Countermeasures
The CDC stated that the threat of antibiotic-resistant microbes affects animals and crops as well as humans. The agency said, “Antibiotic-resistant germs can also share their resistance capabilities with germs that have not been exposed to antibiotics.” However, the American Veterinary Medical Association states that the link between antibiotic use in animals and antibiotic resistance is “unclear.” According to the group, antibiotic resistance is more common in “human pathogens that are transmitted between humans” rather than foodborne illnesses or other pathogens traceable to animals. The group supports the continued use of antibiotics in animals, describing them as “an important part of the veterinarian’s toolkit.
Deviation
The FDA also warned that humans could use some antimicrobial drugs sold online that are intended for pets. In 2021, sales of ivermectin, an antimicrobial drug used to treat parasites like heartworm in animals, surged significantly following a misinformation promotional campaign online. The drug was touted as a potential treatment for COVID-19 by right-wing politicians like U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert, as well as popular podcast host Joe Rogan. Sales of this 40-year-old drug rose dramatically, with some patients turning to pet suppliers and agricultural stores to find the medication. Studies later confirmed that ivermectin has no effect on COVID-19 and that the drug is authorized only for treating head lice, parasitic worms, and skin conditions like rosacea in humans. The FDA warns against taking antibiotics meant for animals, which can potentially lead to “delayed effective treatment, allowing infections to become more severe and/or more resistant to antibiotics.”
Further Reading
To learn more about antimicrobial resistance – “one of the most important global public health threats,” as warned by the World Health Organization, you can check out the following article: What to know about antimicrobial resistance – “one of the most important global public health threats,” according to the World Health Organization.
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Also check the following articles for more information:
- A new tool may help reduce the burden of antibiotic-resistant infections
- Antibiotic resistance killed 1.2 million people in 2019, a leading cause of death
By: Zachary Folk
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