From: Ruth Troetschler [rebugging@batnet.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2001 3:35 PM
To: EXECSEC
Subject: Antibiotic use in animal feed

                                                        
                                                        184 Lockhart Lane
                                                        Los Altos,  CA  94022


Jane E. Henney, M.D.
Commissioner  U. S. Food and Drug Administration


Dear Dr Henney:


I have been following for years the phenomenon of inappropriate use of antibiotics, which has been accompanied by an increase in bacterial resistance to these important medicines.  Unfortunately, now resistance is eliminating the effectiveness of these drugs for curing infectious diseases in people, and an increase in toxic bacterial strains.


While the overuse of antibiotics in human medicine is a contributor to this problem, the widespread prophylactic use of antibiotics in animal feeds has contributed to the rise in drug-resistant microorganisms.


Unfortunately, there are inadequate data on the actual quantity of antibiotics used in the United States, while at the same time scientists need such data to explore the links between antibiotic use and the development of drug resistance. Only such knowledge will help us develop rational strategies to curb overuse.


A recent report "Hogging It!" by the Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that a staggering 24.6 million pounds --roughly 70 percent of all antibiotic drugs --are fed annually to healthy food animals for growth promotion. These conclusions are only estimates because better data are not available.


I urge you, as head of the FDA. to move now to establish a Federal Government system for collecting basic data on antibiotic use for both human and agricultural purposes.  These data and should include the purpose, dosage, and treatment period so better methods can be devised to prevent over use of our important antibiotics.


Thank you for your consideration,


Ruth Troetschler






-- 
Ruth Troetschler