AR-News: (U.S.) IDSA urges Bayer to withdraw poultry antibiotic

[Mary Finelli]

News Shorts, April 13, 2004
http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Article&artNum=7288


The Infectious Diseases Society of America is urging Bayer Corp. to comply 
with a proposed federal regulatory action and withdraw enrofloxacin 
(Baytril) from the market because of the concern that its use in poultry 
promotes drug-resistant bacteria.

Last month, FDA administrative law judge Daniel Davidson approved the Food 
and Drug Administration proposal to ban fluoroquinolones in poultry. 
Davidson agreed that the use of enrofloxacin has promoted 
fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter in poultry. He concluded that the 
presence of resistant campylobacter in poultry leads to more severe 
Campylobacter infections in humans.

In a statement, the IDSA said it supported "the reasonable and measured 
approach" the FDA has used in evaluating the scientific data. That 
evaluation has shown that the use of enrofloxacin in poultry decreases the 
effectiveness of ciprofloxacin in treating human campylobacteriosis, the 
statement said. IDSA President Joseph Dalovisio, M.D., said it was not 
“reasonable or responsible for Bayer Corp. to continue to resist the 
decision, and particularly to continue to market their product during the 
appeals process.”

_________________________________________________________________
Tax headache? MSN Money provides relief with tax tips, tools, IRS forms and 
more! http://moneycentral.msn.com/tax/workshop/welcome.asp