AHI Viewpoint: Judicious Use is Helping Reduce the Need for Animal Antibiotics

The animal health industry is committed to researching and producing a full spectrum of veterinary tools that reduce the need for antibiotics. In addition to preventing the diseases that call for antibiotic use, we are working to ensure that when antibiotics are used, they are used judiciously.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has recognized that judicious therapeutic use of antimicrobials is a core part of antimicrobial stewardship. In accordance with the FDA, therapeutic uses are associated with the prevention, control, and treatment of specific diseases that are necessary for assuring the health of animals. AVMA has put forth detailed principles for judicious use.

When combined with other stewardship efforts like disease prevention and improved diagnostics, the results are promising. Government data shows significant reductions in animal antibiotic use – 59% in the UK, 36% in the US and 53% in the EU.

Since 2015, global animal vaccine sales have risen 33% while antibiotics sales fell 30%, illustrating how prevention reduces the need for treatments.