Wednesday, January 4, 2012

FDA restricts class of antibiotics in animals #H5N1 #BIRDFLU

FDA restricts class of antibiotics in animals

Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health regulators placed restrictions on animal use of a class of antibiotics often used to treat diseases like pneumonia in humans, as part of an effort to prevent the rise of drug-resistant bacteria.

The Food and Drug Administration issued an order on Wednesday to stop the widespread injection of cephalosporins into cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys beginning April 5.
Cephalosporins are commonly used to treat people with pneumonia and skin and soft tissue infections, the FDA said. They can also be used to treat foodborne illnesses such as salmonella and E. coli.
Antibiotics in this class include cefprozil, the generic version of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Cefzil, and cephalexin, often sold under the brand name Keflex.
Scientists say overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance as resistant strains become dominant. Perhaps the most publicized antibiotic-resistant bacteria are the methicillin-resistant staphylococcus bugs known as MRSA.
"We believe this..    http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/sns-rt-us-fda-antibioticstre80329v-20120104,0,2338564.story

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