Subtherapeutic treatment with several antimicrobials used also in human medicine would be banned in livestock and poultry under legislation proposed Feb. 27 by Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).  Therapeutic use of fluoroquinolones in poultry would also be prohibited. The Preservation of Antibiotics for Human Treatment Act of 2002 (H.R. 3804) would phase out, over two years, eight classes of infection-fighting drugs commonly used to promote growth or prevent disease. The practice is suspected of contributing to antimicrobial resistance in humans.

Drugs proposed to be prohibited are penicillins, tetracyclines, macrolides--including, but not limited to, erythromycin and tylosin--lincomycin, bacitracin, virginiamycin, aminoglycosides, and sulfonamides. The targeted antimicrobials may still be used to treat sick animals. They can also continue to be used as growth promotants and to prevent disease if the drug manufacturers can demonstrate within two years that there is no harm to human health resulting from such use.

The Coalition for Animal Health said Brown's bill 'would devastate animal health.' The coalition, whose members include the AVMA, AASV, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Turkey Federation, and Animal Health Institute, expressed disappointment at the attempt to override science-based processes established by Congress in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.