The upsurge of antibiotic-resistant diseases has spurred federal agencies in the United States to take action. Last week, a task force led by the Centers for Disease Control , the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health issued a draft action plan to address the issue. No single agency could address this problem on its own. It requires a coordinated effort. This is an important step forward.
Overuse of antibiotics can complicate the treatment of human illnesses from food-borne bacteria.
The action plan also addresses agricultural applications of antibiotics. Fruit growers, for example, spray antibiotics on fruit trees to prevent the spread of bacteria that damage crops. In the 1950s, animal growers observed that the use of low doses of antibiotics helped livestock grow larger, according Bell. The practice of using antibiotics for bigger animals has since become common practice among producers. About 40 percent of all antibiotics produced in the United States each year are used in animals.