Marti Hoekstra's Article Review

McEwen, S. (2006). Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture: What Have We Learned and Where are We Going?. Animal Biotechnology, 17(2), 239- 250.doi:10.1080/10495390600957233

In McEwen’s article in Animal Biotechnology titled “Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture: What Have We Learned and Where are We Going” he discusses many factors we have obtained over the years pertaining to the use of antibiotic use on farms, prevalence of resistance relating to this and what should be done in the future to monitor or adjust this use. Since even the beginning of antibiotic development, Alexander Fleming realized the potential for antibiotic resistant bacteria (McEwen 2006). Like antibiotics in human use, resistance becomes a problem when it leads to treatment failure, requires an increase in frequency and dosage or use of more toxic and expensive drugs (McEwen 2006). Over the years, scientific research has evidenced transfer of resistant pathogens in additional ways through transfer genes, genetic mutations or more simply direct contact. Strength of transfer varies by the type of drug being studied. This article also addresses that various techniques other than antibiotics are being used to prevent and treat animal disease including animal environment, sanitation practices and vaccination but none thus far have achieved the same successes of antibiotic use (McEwen 2006). McEwen describes the results Denmark has experienced since their termination of the use of in-feed antibiotics and the consequential loss in prophylactic treatment resulting in some disease especially in their swine population. The author’s recommendations for the future include sticking to what is scientifically known about antibiotic use and its effects, development of antibiotic use safety programs and encouraging the continuance of research to explore assessment for resistance risk and prevalence.

McEwen’s article gives a general background on antibiotics use and its involvement with resistant bacteria. This article provides helpful, insightful and complete information that is presented in a way that is understandable to a variety of audiences. Data expressed in McEwen’s writing will be helpful in enhancing the background information of antibiotics I will provide during the course of my research involving antibiotic use in farming.

First this article discusses that each specific type of antibiotic has its own affect on the presence of resistant bacteria. Its frequency, resistance level and ability to transfer depend on the type and strength of antibiotic being studied. Often, antibiotics come out as generalized and the public do not realize the differences in toxicity and levels of treatment. For example, the use of fluoroquinolone has showed an adverse effect in human health in terms of mortality, morbidity, treatment failures and numbers of people being treated with drugs to which their infection is resistant (McEwen 2006). This piece of data suggests that further studies are required to further investigate different types of antibiotics in relation to resistant bacteria strength and prevalence.

Secondly, alternatives to antimicrobial use was also discussed by McEwen in his article. Age-segregation, all-in all-out management, biosecurity, sanitation, and vaccination are the examples of nonantibiotic practices that he discusses relating to this topic. He mentions the importance of finding successful alternative especially because many antibiotics used in farming are the same classes of those used in humans in North America causing great concern for resistance to these drugs commonly used for human infections (McEwen 2006). These antibiotics often include penicillin, tetracyclines and sulfonamides (McEwen 2006). This topic peaks my interests about alternatives being used to antibiotics and whether or not these alternatives are being used in organic farming where antibiotics are not used. This would be a topic to consider when interviewing organic farmers around the Fargo-Moorhead area for my research.

Additionally McEwen points out that many additional and persistent efforts had to be put into effect in order for physicians to practice conserving antibiotics in irrelevant indications of treatment. Why would antibiotic use on farms be any different? I thought this was an interesting and valid point. It has taken perseverance in order to maintain consistency between health care providers so that antibiotics are not handed out in non-therapeutic situations. Only continual research, education and development for guidelines for antibiotic farm use will reinforce efforts to decrease resistance and make the policies consistent.

I actually enjoyed this article’s main points and it has opened up new components of research I can pursue to advance the background of my knowledge of antibiotics. I therefore intend to discover additional information especially regarding alternative antimicrobial practices used in conventional and organic farming.