Antibiotic resistance is a growing crisis in human medicine, and our health is put at unnecessary risk by the use of important human drugs in animal agriculture. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently considering an application by drug company Schering-Plough to allow an antibiotic called cefquinome to be used to treat cattle respiratory infections. Cefquinome is from the class of drugs known as “fourth-generation cephalosporins”—drugs that are highly valued in human medicine to treat life-threatening infections. Widespread use of cefquinome in cattle could drive human bacterial resistance to this critical class of drugs

Some animal drugs, such as cefquinome, are indiscriminately applied via injection to entire herds or flocks.  Bacteria that are constantly exposed to antibiotics develop resistance to these drugs over time.  When humans and animals get sick from resistant bacteria, the antibiotics prescribed will no longer work, resulting in life-threatening infections.

Keep Antibiotics Working is campaigning diligently to ensure that the FDA does not approve cefquinome.  While FDA is dragging its feet, another way to stop this public health threat is for drug company Schering-Plough to pull its application for the approval of cefquinome. We need your help to urge Schering-Plough CEO Fred Hassan to pull its new animal drug application for cefquinome! Please sign our petition today!

Want to read more about this important public health issue? Read the front page Washington Post coverage or explore Keep Antibiotics Working’s webpage on  cefquinome.