Risk assessment for antibiotic resistance: use of macrolides in Danish pig production

摘要

What is the risk that use of antibiotics in farm animals will result in treatment failure in humans? Different approaches can address this. One approach is to make a risk profile and another to conduct a risk assessment. Use of macrolides in Danish pigs will be used as an example that demonstrates how the conclusion depends on the approach. A risk profile mcludes a description of the hazard and a qualitative assessment of the risk, similar to hazard identification. Accordingly, macrolide-resistant Campylobacter might develop as a result of usage of macrolides in pig production. This is of concern for human health. because it might reduce the effect of erythromycin, a macrolide used in children for treatment of Campylobacter infections. A full risk assessment contains an assessment of release, exposure, and consequences related to the unwanted outcome. Release deals with the probability that Campylobacter will be present m the gut, and how often the isolates found are resistant to macrolides.