BfR | Annual Report 2013
32
The resistance situation for commensal
E. coli
from animals serves as
an indicator of the exposure of the relevant animal population to anti-
microbial substances. The associated selection pressure makes clear
that each application of antibiotics promotes the survival and spread
of resistant bacteria. The resistance results show that specific consid-
eration of the animal species and its production type and age group is
necessary if meaningful steps are to be taken towards a reduction in
antibiotics use and in antibiotics resistance in livestock farming.
Antibiotics: use on the farm = resistance in the animal?
In May 2013 the “Veterinary Consumption of Antibiotics (VetCAb)” pilot
study commissioned and supervised by the BfR presented the first ever
representative data on antibiotics use in livestock animals in Germany.
This was done using the volumes of antibiotics administered in 2011 on
more than 2,000 livestock farms for cattle, pigs and broilers. Data was
gathered on the type, frequency and quantity of antibiotics used, as well
as on the species of animal or type of livestock production in question.
For the presentation of the results, in addition to the volume data, the
number of treatments, the number of individual applications and the
frequency of treatment were defined as standardised measurements.
Quantity and frequency-related measurements are required since the
dosages for the different antibiotics vary greatly.
The largest administered volumes were documented for the two antimi-
crobial classes beta-lactams and tetracyclines. In the livestock popula-
tions covered, the frequency of treatment varied greatly between the
animal species under observation. Fattening pigs were treated with an
antimicrobial agent on an average (median) of 4.2 days during each
fattening period, while broilers were treated on 10.1 days. Antibiotics
were used more frequently on animal species where frequently antibi-
otic resistances are observed.
Resistance monitoring examines both zoonot-
ic pathogens as well as harmless intestinal
bacteria that do not cause any disease.
Fattening pigs are treated with an antimicro-
bial agent on an average 4.2 days during
each fattening period.
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Of all the species examined,
E-coli
bacteria resistant
to antibiotics were found most frequently in broilers
and fattening turkeys. The cause is probably the
frequent use of antibiotics.
