The public health hazards associated with the non-medical and animal health usage of antimicrobial drugs.

Antimicrobial drugs are used in many ways. They are used for man's health and as agents to help provide or preserve his food. Similarly they are used for animal diseases and as additives to animal feed in hopes of increasing average daily gain and feed efficiency. There are many variables which determine if the use is an efficacious one supported by scientific observation and documentation or if the use is supported by empirical observations. The public health hazards associated with the non-medical and animal health uses of antimicrobial drugs are two-fold: (1) hazards produced by direct contact, probably by consuming food containing antimicrobial residues, with the antimicrobial drug resulting in drug sensitization or intoxication, and (2) hazards, real or potential, associated with the development of antimicrobial resistant organisms that facilitate or produce diseases in man which are refractory to therapeutic agents.