New WHO Guideline Offers Hope in Curbing Antibiotics

David Wallinga, MD NRDC Senior Health Officer, Health Program

As antibiotic resistance spreads worldwide, the calls get more urgent to stop squandering our most precious medicines, in both human medicine and in livestock. Released earlier this week are new recommendations from the World Health Organization—the leading international public health authority—on how the medically important antibiotics given to food animals can be used better. They’re especially timely, given that next week is Antibiotic Awareness Week.

All Hands on Deck!

New report highlights the critical role of state and local antibiotics initiatives

Thomas Gremillion, Director, Food Policy Institute at Consumer Federation of America

In a more perfect world, the United States would rival trading partners like Denmark and the Netherlands in developing national policies to curtail animal antibiotic use. In reality, recent federal reforms have yet to yield reductions in use, and public health authorities continue to operate without the most rudimentary data on which drugs are going to which animals.

 

Presidential Council Could Take a Cue from “Big Food” in Antibiotics Leadership

Sarah Sorscher, Center for Science in the Public Interest

Last week, the Presidential Advisory Council on Antibiotic Resistance met for the seventh time. Given the fate of other presidential councils in recent months, the mere fact that the council continues to meet and maintains a working website should be recognized as a minor victory.

REPORT: Roadmap for a Future Where Antibiotics Still Work

David Wallinga, MD NRDC Senior Health Officer, Health Program

As the national (and global) crisis of antibiotic resistance worsens, it garners more attention. Deservedly so. "We are running out of antibiotics fast“ is how the “Stopping Superbugs" series PBS NewsHour began earlier this month. Without stronger, swifter action – my friends who are infectious disease docs warn – we’ll find ourselves living in a world where once routine infections are no longer treatable.

PBS Spotlight Reaffirms The Need To Stop Misusing Life-Saving Antibiotics

Matthew Wellington, U.S. PIRG Antibiotics Program Director

Over the last two weeks, millions of people got a peak under the hood of the antibiotic resistance crisis, courtesy of PBS Newshour’s reporting. Here, here, and here are three excellent Newshour segments.

Welcome, we're glad you're learning about our work.

Steve Roach, MA, FACT Food Safety Director

Welcome to the new blog for the Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW) Coalition. We created this blog for KAW coalition members to provide information about the dangers of “superbugs” and share actions to stop their spread on farms nationwide.

Keep Antibiotics Working is staffed by Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT). Learn more at www.foodanimalconcernstrust.org.