Dr. Rebecca Irwin and Dr. Scott McEwen of Guelph have joined
scientists in Australia and Denmark to urge a world-wide ban on the use of
third-generation cephalosporins as growth-promoting feed additives for poultry.
The concern is that the practice increases the population of
harmful bacteria that are resistant to the third-generation cephalosporin
antibiotics that are used to treat people.
There is a recent European estimate that 1,500 people have
died because third-generation cephalosporin antibiotics did not work to control
the E. coli bacteria that had invaded their bodies.
Canada allows third-generation cephalosporins to be used as
growth-promoting feed additives for poultry.
But, given the control marketing boards have over poultry producers, it's a mystery to me why those marketing boards have failed to implement the ban that Irwin and McEwen are urging if for no other reason than to protect their image and sales.
Peter Collignon of the Canberra Hospital in Australia is the
lead author of a letter signed by the four scientists and published in the
Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.
The European estimate of 1,500 deaths is based on 21 deaths
in three years from antibiotic-resistant E. coli in hospitals in the
Netherlands.
The letter says ‘“to more accurately
estimate the associated increased deaths among persons resulting from
third-generation cephalosporin use in poultry, detailed data from more
countries is essential.
“However, we already know that G3CREC (an
antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli) is rapidly rising in many countries,
and in Europe, the infection rate is likely to have tripled from 2007 to 2012.
“The ongoing use of these antimicrobial drugs in
mass therapy and prophylaxis (for prevention of infections) should be urgently
examined and stopped, particularly in poultry, not only in Europe, but
worldwide.”
