Survey shows spike in antibiotic sales

WASHINGTON — Sales of antibiotics rose 7.5 percent in 2004, according to a survey from the Animal Health Institute (AHI).

"Antibiotic use in animals is a function of the number of animals and the scope of disease outbreaks farmers and ranchers must deal with in their flocks and herds," reports Alexander S. Mathews, AHI president and CEO. AHI is a national association representing animal health manufacturers. Survey results were reported from member companies.

Volume of antibiotic sales for use in farm and companion animals surged in 2004, but they remain down from 1999 levels.

In 2004, 21.7 million pounds of anti-biotics were sold for use in farm and companion animals, up from 20.2 million pounds sold in 2003. Antibiotic production had trended down since 1999, when 24.4 million pounds were sold.

AHI reports that this survey offers an assessment each year of the amount of veterinary antibiotics sold for therapeutic use and health-maintenance purposes. The percentage of veterinary antibiotic sales reported as therapeutic was 83 percent in 2001, and it has risen each year since to 95 percent in 2004.

"These data stand in stark contrast to the estimates some have offered regarding antibiotic use," Mathews says. The 5 percent of use attributed to health maintenance represents 1,175,226 pounds of use. Of that amount, 758,969 pounds are compounds with little or no use in human medicine, including ionophores and arsenicals. The remaining 416,257 pounds of use are comprised of four compounds, all of which have been or are being evaluated by risk assessments.

"Antibiotics are being used carefully and judiciously to protect both animal and human health. Risk assessment efforts and resources have been prioritized to address those compounds of greatest concern. To date, those risk assessments have shown miniscule levels of risk that are far outweighed by the benefits to animal and human health," Mathews says.