In recognition of the 2018 US Antibiotic Awareness Week and World Antibiotic Awareness Week, 12-18 November, America’s pig farmers want consumers to realise the continuous improvement and antibiotic stewardship efforts underway. Part of that commitment is participating in the global One Health initiative with organisations including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Using antibiotics responsibly, under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, is a part of daily life on pig farms and has been for many years,” said National Pork Board President Steve Rommereim, a pig farmer from Alcester, South Dakota.

“When it comes to keeping our pigs healthy, we continue to use many management strategies on our farms, including biosecurity measures, vaccinations, housing management, and more, to maintain the health and well-being of the pigs in our care.”

US Antibiotic Awareness Week, directed by the CDC, is an annual observance to raise the awareness of antibiotic resistance risks and the importance for all sectors – human and animal health and the environment – to responsibly use antibiotics. More than 300 organisations observe Antibiotic Awareness Week, including federal agencies, health departments, professional societies, corporations and advocacy groups. The CDC’s educational effort theme – Be Antibiotics Aware: Smart Use, Best Care – is highlighted during the week’s activities, but is a year-round effort (see #USAAW18 and #BeAntibioticsAware).

Additionally, the National Pork Board continues its participation and collaboration with the CDC’s newly developed Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Challenge (#AMRChallenge). This year-long effort is an avenue for governments, private industries and non-governmental organisations worldwide to make formal commitments to advance the progress to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. The challenge encourages a 'one health' approach, recognising that the health of people, animals and the environment is all connected.

“Antibiotics are powerful tools for fighting disease, but if used inappropriately in people, animals or other applications, it can set the stage for antibiotic resistance,” said National Pork Board’s Heather Fowler, DVM, Pork Checkoff’s director of producer and public health.

“Although resistance occurs naturally on its own, we recognise the role farming can play in that area. It is critical that farmers use medically important antibiotics only as necessary for the health and welfare of their animals to keep these compounds effective in the future.”

Fowler reiterates that for the National Pork Board and America’s pig farmers, staying focused on responsible antibiotic use is a year-round effort and not merely during Antibiotic Awareness Week. To understand this more fully, she recommends that people become familiar with the National Pork Board’s Antibiotic Use Position that was revised earlier this year.

A prime example of pig farmers’ long-term dedication to antibiotic stewardship, public health and animal care is the industry’s Pork Quality Assurance® Plus certification programme, now in its third decade. The programme trains and certifies pig farmers and their employees on all aspects of production. This includes farrowing, health monitoring, facility management, record keeping and more. This programme is augmented by the third-party Common Swine Industry Audit.

Another example of continuous improving regarding antibiotics is the Checkoff research that US pig farmers have funded, which totals $6.5 million since 2000. In 2018 alone, the Pork Checkoff funded nearly $400,000 across multiple research areas to evaluate antibiotic alternatives and other methods to minimise on-farm antibiotic use.

“Everyone has a role in responsible antibiotic use, whether it involves a medical doctor prescribing an antibiotic, a patient completing a dosage regimen or a producer working with a veterinarian monitoring herd health,” Fowler said. “It’s a lifelong commitment.”

You can follow US Antibiotics Awareness Week on social media @CDCgov and @CDC_NCEZID on Twitter and on Facebook. Be sure to use #USAAW18 and #BeAntibioticsAware.