Increased Sales of Key Antimicrobials
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has noted an uptick in the sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials for food-producing animals in 2022.
The latest annual report indicates a 4% increase in overall sales from 2021, though these numbers are still significantly lower, by 36%, compared to the peak levels recorded between 2015 and 2022. Compared to the longer period from 2013 through 2022, the sales are down by 32%.
Specific Antibiotics Usage
In 2022, tetracyclines, primarily used for managing or treating bacterial infections, represented the bulk of these sales, amounting to 4.1 million kilograms, a 4% rise from the previous year.
Macrolides, another group of antibiotics for bacterial infections, saw an 8% increase in sales, with nearly 567 kilograms sold, ranking as the second-highest in terms of volume.
Distribution Across Animal Categories
The report further breaks down the usage of these antibiotics across different animal categories. It estimates that 43% of the total medically important antibiotics sold were intended for swine, and 41% for cattle. Turkeys accounted for 12% of the usage, while chickens comprised 2%.
Further Information
For those seeking more detailed insights, the FDA‘s full annual report offers a comprehensive analysis of the trends and specifics in the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals.
