Mr. Wellington’s letter responded to a Jan. 1 editorial The Post published, which said antibiotic sales to the meat industry have dropped due to new regulations and consumer demand.
However, the U.S. still “vastly” overuses medically important antibiotics to produce meat, according to Mr. Wellington. Continued action on antibiotic resistance cannot rely on consumers alone; federal regulators must step up to address this issue, Mr. Wellington argued.
“The [FDA] should limit the use of medically important antibiotics to treat sick animals or to control a verified disease outbreak,” he wrote. “Life before antibiotics was much more dangerous. We can’t go back.”
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Nixing flu vaccine for hospitalized patients could be blown opportunity, study suggests
SHEA calls for coordinated response to Congo’s Ebola outbreak
Common pain reliever worsens C. diff infections in mice
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
