Examples of Antimicrobials Important in Human Medicine Being Used for Animal Treatment, Metaphylaxis or Growth Promotion
A wide array of antimicrobial classes that are used for animal health and production are also used for human treatments. Those AMR genes that propagate from the use of antibiotics for animal populations may spread and eventually hurt the efficacy of these same antibiotic when they are used to treat people. While all AMR is a potential human health hazard, the preserved efficacy of some human medicine antibiotics is is of higher priority. Below is a list of antimicrobials used for both animals and humans, classified by the World Health Organization according to their importance to human health
A. Classified By The World Health Organization As CRITICALLY IMPORTANT For Humans
Antibiotic classes |
ANIMALS |
Humans |
|||
Species |
Disease treatment |
Disease Prevention |
Growth promotion |
||
Aminoclycosides: gentamicin, neomycin, streptomycin |
Beef cattle, goats, poultry, sheep, swine, certain plants |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Penicillins: amoxicillin, ampicillin |
Beef cattle, dairy cows, fowl, poultry, sheep, swine |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cephalosporins, third generation: ceftiofur |
Beef cattle, dairy cows, poultry, sheep, swine |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Glycopeptides: Avoparcin, vancomycin
|
Poultry, swine |
|
|
Yes |
Yes |
Macrolides: erythromycin, tilmicosin, tylosin
|
Beef cattle, poultry, swine |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Quinolones: (fluoroquinolones) sarafloxacin, enrofloxaxin
|
Beef cattle, poultry |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes
|
Streptogramins: Virginiamycin, quinupristin-dalfopristin |
Beef cattle, poultry, swine |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Carbapenems, lipopeptides, oxazolidinones, cycloserine, ethambutol, ethionamide, isoniazid, para-aminosalicyclic acid, pyrazinamide |
|
|
|
|
Yes |
B. Classified By The World Health Organization As HIGHLY IMPORTANT For Humans
Antibiotic classes |
ANIMALS |
Humans |
|||
Species |
Disease treatment |
Disease Prevention |
Growth promotion |
||
Cephalosporins, first generation: cefadroxil
|
|
|
|
|
Yes |
Cephalosporins, second generation: cefuroxime |
|
|
|
|
Yes |
Spectinomycin
|
Poultry, swine |
|
Yes |
|
Yes |
Sulfonamides: sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine, sulfisoxazole |
Beef cattle, dairy cows, fowl, poultry, swine, catfish, trout, salmon |
Yes |
|
Yes |
Yes |
Tetracyclines: Chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline |
Beef cattle, dairy cows, honey bees, poultry, sheep, swine, catfish, trout, salmon, lobster |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cephamycins, dofazimine, monobactams, amino-penicillins, antipseudomonal penicillins, sulfones |
|
|
|
|
Yes |
C. Classified By The World Health Organization As IMPORTANT For Humans
Antibiotic classes |
ANIMALS |
Humans |
|||
Species |
Disease treatment |
Disease Prevention |
Growth promotion |
||
Polypeptides: Bacitracin
|
Fowl, poultry, swine |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Lincosamides: Lincomycin
|
Poultry, swine |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Yes |
D. Not known to be used in humans
Antibiotic classes |
ANIMALS |
Humans |
|||
Species |
Disease treatment |
Disease Prevention |
Growth promotion |
||
Babermycin: Flavomycin
|
Beef cattle, poultry, swine |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
Ionophores: monensin, salinomycin, semduramicin, lasalocid |
Beef cattle, fowl, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep |
|
Yes |
Yes |
|
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