An update discussion on the current assessment of the safety of veterinary antimicrobial drug residues in food with regard to their impact on the human intestinal microbiome

Abstract

The human gastrointestinal tract ecosystem consists of complex and diverse microbial communities that have now been collectively termed the intestinal microbiome. Recent scientific breakthroughs and research endeavours have increased our understanding of the important role the intestinal microbiome plays in human health and disease. The use of antimicrobial new animal drugs in food‐producing animals may result in the presence of low levels of drug residues in edible foodstuffs. There is concern that antimicrobial new animal drugs in or on animal‐derived food products at residue‐level concentrations could disrupt the colonization barrier and/or modify the antimicrobial resistance profile of human intestinal bacteria. Therapeutic doses of antimicrobial drugs have been shown to promote shifts in the intestinal microbiome, and these disruptions promote the emergence of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria. To assess the effects of antimicrobial new animal drug residues in food on human intestinal bacteria, many national regulatory agencies and international committees follow a harmonized process, VICH GL36(R), which was issued by a trilateral organization of the European Union, the USA, and Japan called the International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH). The guidance describes a general approach currently used by national regulatory agencies and international committees to assess the effects of antimicrobial new animal drug residues in animal‐derived food on human intestinal bacteria. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of this current approach as part of the antimicrobial new animal drug approval process in participating countries, give insights on the microbiological endpoints used in this safety evaluation, and discuss the availability of new information. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Antimicrobial Use in Extensive Smallholder Livestock Farming Systems in Ethiopia: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Livestock Keepers

“…Restricting access to antimicrobials by removing over-the-counter sales has been identified as a potential route to better antimicrobial use in animals (6,36). Moreover, the reported frequent use of cow or goat milk in their meal coupled with a relatively high proportion of farmers not being aware of the recommended withdrawal periods of milk and meat after antibiotic treatment may lead to the potential hazard of repeatedly ingested residues altering the intestinal microbiome and promoting emergence and selection for resistant bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of humans (37,38). Withdrawal times are recommended in order to prevent the presence of drug residues in food products (39).…”

Food safety risk posed to consumers of table eggs from layer farms in Gauteng Province, South Africa: Prevalence of Salmonella species and Escherichia coli, antimicrobial residues, and antimicrobial resistant bacteria

“…The food safety significance of antimicrobial residues in the table eggs cannot be ignored considering reports that ordinary cooking does not eliminate all the residues present in eggs (Chowdhury et al, ; Gajda, Bladek, Gbylik‐Sikorska, & Posyniak, ). This is in addition to fact that antimicrobial residues in foods may cause side effects such as direct toxicity, elicit allergic response in consumers (Cerniglia et al, ; WHO, ). It is however pertinent to mention that the reported prevalence of antimicrobial residues in table eggs is affected by the detection systems used which are known to have different sensitivity and specificity (Adesiyun, Offiah, Lashley, et al, ; Corcia, ; Mbodi et al, ; Nonga et al, ; Sirdar, Picard, Bisschop, Jambalang, & Gummow, ; WHO, ).…”

Characterizing chronic and acute health risks of residues of veterinary drugs in food: latest methodological developments by the joint FAO/WHO expert committee on food additives

“…An update on the safety evaluation of veterinary antimicrobial agents in food to determine effects on the human intestinal microbiota has recently been published (Cerniglia et al 2016). …”