From ranches and hospitals to the home: Policy development for responsible antibiotic use across the spectrum

Continued availability of effective antimicrobials is vital for the protection of human and animal health. However, the simultaneous increase in antibiotic resistance and decline in antibiotic development are causes for concern in the public health and animal health communities. Responsible use of antimicrobials will require policies that are sensitive to different realities among interest groups. The use of antibiotics in human medicine and animal medicine makes it necessary to have a multi-sector dialogue that goes beyond conventional paradigms. This multi-faceted issue requires collaborations among human health care, animal agriculture, consumer industries and veterinary medicine. This panel offers a safe and respectful venue that is appreciative of different perspectives vis-a-vis the use of antimicrobials without vilifying any parties. Panelists represent multiple healthcare professions (e.g., pharmacists, epidemiologists, physicians, and veterinarians) as well as multiple groups of stakeholders (e.g., consumers, regulators and industry). Through dialogue, our goal will be to seek common ground toward rational design of policies regarding the responsible use of antimicrobials. In the first portion of the panel, we will explore use patterns in human medicine and highlight local, state and federal initiatives and legislative efforts toward antimicrobial stewardship. In the second half of the panel, we will turn our attention to the use of antimicrobials in the veterinary context and discuss antimicrobial stewardship programs in animal production.