What does the most recent WHO classification imply for antibiotic use?

10 June 2024

3 minute learn

Encouraging progress has been remodeled latest years to cut back antibiotic use in food-producing animals. On a world scale, essentially the most just lately reported figures present a 13% lower between 2017 and 2019[1], whereas antibiotic gross sales confirmed a 21% discount throughout 25 European international locations[2]. Within the UK, antibiotic use was on the lowest degree recorded on the finish of 2023 based on the Authorities’s Veterinary Medicines Directorate[3].

However are these excellent achievements beneath menace with the downgrade of macrolides within the newest World Well being Organisation (WHO) classification of medically necessary antibiotics? Macrolides have moved from being classed HP-CIA to ‘critically necessary antibiotics’ (CIA).

The WHO checklist of medically necessary antibiotics is a part of its makes an attempt to handle the worldwide danger posed by antibiotic resistance (AMR). First revealed in 2005, it’s up to date repeatedly following a interval of session and thorough examination of the most recent science. It’s in the latest checklist[4]
macrolides have been re-classified.

Outlining FAI’s response to the re-classification, Laura Higham, FAI’s Veterinary Marketing consultant stated: “We welcome WHO’s ongoing work on this important space and respect any re-classification as a mirrored image of the present proof. Nevertheless, our concern lies within the unintended penalties of it.

“There’s a actual hazard the transfer of any antibiotic down a class may very well be seen as a ‘inexperienced gentle’ for its elevated use or use for illness prevention. However macrolides stay a critically necessary antibiotic (CIA) indicating their use ought to nonetheless be minimised.

“In some international locations, vital momentum has been achieved in antibiotic stewardship in farmed animal sectors in response to the well-recognised public well being considerations round AMR. Nice progress has additionally been made by many meals manufacturers adopting progressive antibiotics insurance policies for his or her worldwide provide chains, typically making use of restrictions to HP-CIAs based on their WHO categorisation.

“The meals and farming sectors the place that is taking place must be applauded for his or her dedication to those endeavours, however this optimistic trajectory should proceed if we’re to beat the worldwide problem of AMR and mitigate its danger to human, animal, and environmental well being.

“Sturdy meals methods solely use antibiotics when essential to deal with sick animals. We urge meals producers to proceed the progress we’re seeing via measures to cut back illness danger and the necessity for therapy, reminiscent of vaccination, strong increased welfare breeds, lowering stress throughout manufacturing and adopting agro-ecological approaches.”

FAI CEO Øistein Thorsen added: “We’re working with purchasers to replace their antibiotic insurance policies and proceed to emphasize the necessity to cut back, change and refine the usage of all antibiotics. The accountable use of antibiotics stays paramount.”

For extra info or recommendation on coverage improvement regarding antibiotic use in your provide chains, contact Øistein Thorsen, CEO at [email protected].