FDA Policy/General

Antimicrobial Sales Down Last Year: CVM Report

David McFarland

— 2 min read
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Domestic sales and distribution of antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals decreased by 10% from 2015 through 2016, according to a Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) summary report. The summary report presents sales and distribution data for the 2016 calendar year for actively marketed antimicrobial drugs approved for use in food-producing animals by drug class, medical importance, route of administration, indication, and dispensing status, as well as species-specific estimates of the sales and distribution.

Other trends observed in the report were: 

  •          an estimated 43% of the domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials was intended for use in cattle, 37% for swine, 9% for turkeys, 6% for chickens, and 4% for use in other species/unknown;
  •          domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials accounted for 60% of the domestic sales of all antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals, with tetracyclines accounting for 70% of the sales, penicillins for 10%, macrolides for 7%, sulfas for 4%, aminoglycosides for 4%, lincosamides for 2%, and cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones each for less than 1%;
  •          an estimated 80% of domestic sales and distribution of cephalosporins, 64% of sulfas, 51% of aminoglycosides, and 49% of tetracyclines were intended for use in cattle; an estimated 83% of domestic sales and distribution of lincosamindes and 61% of macrolides intended for use in swine; and 63% of domestic sales and distribution of penicillins for use in turkeys;
  •          domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals decreased by 14% from 2015 through 2016, with decreases represented in all individual drug classes;
  •          the percentage of domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals that have an approved indication for production use decreased from 71% to 69% from 2015 through 2016; and
  •          the percentage of domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials approved for use in food-producing animals that are sold over-the-counter decreased from 97% to 96% from 2015 through 2016.

 “Combating antimicrobial resistance is a top priority for the agency,” says CVM deputy director for science policy William Flynn. “While the decline in antimicrobial sales in 2016 when compared to 2015 is noteworthy, additional sources of information are necessary to give a fuller picture of progress being made to foster antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary settings. The agency is fully committed to ensuring the judicious use of these lifesaving drugs in both animals and people so that we can preserve their effectiveness for years to come.”

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