Monitoring Antibiotic Use in Animals

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated efforts to develop a reporting framework for monitoring antibiotic use in animals to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR is a significant threat, with projections of 2 million deaths in India by 2050 due to resistant infections.

Understanding Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

• AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to antimicrobial drugs, affecting both humans and animals.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that AMR could lead to 10 million deaths globally by 2050, with 2 million in India alone.
• AMR was responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019.
• The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, and plants are primary contributors to AMR.
• Antibiotic residues in vegetables, poultry, and dairy products can exacerbate AMR exposure.

Initiatives and Strategies

• A joint working group will be established with representatives from CDSCO, state licensing authorities, and the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy to implement the AMU reporting framework.
• This framework will systematically collect data on the sale, manufacture, and import of veterinary antibiotics.
• In October, the Centre provided guidelines for minimising antibiotic use in livestock and poultry to prevent AMR.
• These guidelines emphasize symptomatic treatment until laboratory confirmation of diseases, promoting minimal antibiotic use.

Additional Measures

• State drug regulators are tasked with identifying pharmaceutical companies involved in veterinary antibiotic production and distribution.
• The CDSCO has asked for a list of approved veterinary drugs, including antibiotics and drug combinations.
• A draft guidance document for the safe disposal of unused or expired drugs has been proposed to mitigate public health risks.

Statistics and Research Findings

• A 2015 study estimated two-thirds of global antibiotic sales are for animal agriculture, with a potential 67% increase by 2030 due to rising demand.
• Research in the Lancet Planetary Health journal highlights a bidirectional relationship between antibiotic consumption in animals and humans, influencing AMR rates.

Regulatory Framework

• Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, antibiotics are listed under Schedule H, requiring a prescription from a registered medical professional for sale.