United States Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Susan Collins have introduced the ‘Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act of 2015’ that will require the withdrawal of approval of some medically important antibiotics for use in animals.

If approved the bill would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw its approval of medically-important antibiotics used for disease prevention or control that are at high risk of abuse, unless the producer of the drug can demonstrate that its use in agriculture does not pose a risk to human health. Antibiotics that meet the standard for prevention and control uses would be issued a revised label that supports prudent antibiotic use.

Filling the gap in the FDA guidelines on antibiotics for growth promotion

The bill addresses a gap in the guidelines issued by FDA in December 2013, which called on the industry to eliminate the use of antibiotics for the purpose of making animals gain weight.

About 107 antibiotics in use at risk of being misused

FDA estimates that 107 antibiotics used for therapeutic purposes, including disease prevention or control, do not have a defined duration of therapy or are labelled for continuous use. An analysis by the Pew Charitable Trusts estimates that 83 antibiotics used for disease prevention or control have an overlapping dose with a production use. These antibiotics are at high risk of being inappropriately administered, which could pose a risk to human health.

Bill endorsed by:

The Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act is endorsed by the American Public Health Association, the Infectious Disease Society of America, Trust for America's Health, the American College of Preventive Medicine and the Pew Charitable Trusts.

It is cosponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).