Tweet
I encourage everyone to keep tabs on whats going with regards to antibiotic access for the aquarium hobby. Many of the antibiotics we had access to we don't anymore without a prescription. This trend will continue.
FDA Announces Transition of Over-the-Counter Medically Important Antimicrobials for Animals to Prescription Status | FDA
In theory that makes sense. Antibiotic misuse is a serious problem and does lead to resistant strains of bacteria. Having a Veterinarian prescribe medications makes sense. Just as it does for Doctors to prescribe them for people. If done properly a Doctor or Vet can culture bacteria and tell you what antibiotics its susceptible to. Though honestly 99% of the cultures aren't done unless its something like Strep. Its more like we rely on these experts to determine what the issue based on their experience as Doctor or Vet with the understanding they have training and experience we do not. And here in lies the first problem with the direction the FDA has gone.
Try finding a Vet that has experience with fish... Good luck there.Most Vets are geared toward mammals and a few see reptiles. Now if you do find a vet even willing to talk with you about your fish ..you will need to bring it there and of course pay the Vet the fees which if you have Cat or Dogs you know this isn't cheap. They have a business to run after all. So now the cost of treating your fish just got really expensive. But that doesn't matter to the FDA because they designed the system without hobbyist fish keepers in mind anyway. You can't legally get that prescription from a vet for your fish anyway. Why? Because in order for a Vet to write that prescription they have to have a Veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with you and your Fish. Meaning they have been seeing you and the fish in a regular fashion. Its different state by state, but in most cases its for at least a year from what I can see. NO VCPR... no prescription.
Read The rules here....
and here the American Veterinarian Medicine Association summarizes the changes..
Ironically the articles ends by saying..
It sounds good on paper but the reality is different. Because of the lack of Veterinarians that see fish and the legal requirements of needing to have VCPR in place , odds are you won't be getting that Prescription.
The net result is you as fish keeper do not matter. The same goes for small back yard chicken farmers etc, that are similarly affected. The irony is your use of what amounts to mostly legacy antibiotics probably contributes very little in the overall scheme of things. Big aquaculture and big agriculture aren't even affected by this.. They already have that the VCPR in place and many employ Vets. They will still be doing what they did and the amount of antibiotics used is in the tons and far surpasses anything hobbyist contribute. At no point has the FDA or American Veterinarian Medicine Association given any statistics or number or scientific proof that Aquarium Hobbyists are a major problem. To quote them..
If you want to find drug resistant strains of bacteria ..you look at the mass livestock producers, commercial aquaculture facilities, and you look at our Hospitals because thats where the problem really lies and the FDA knows it. These industries because of all the antibiotics they use and the sheer magnitude of the animal numbers and distribution networks are the perfect breeding ground for resistant pathogens. Not Bob Smiths 75 gal tank of fish being treated with legacy antibiotics or ones like nitrofurazone that aren't even used in people anymore. Its optics and makes the FDA look like they are addressing the issue.
Have a read sometime here..https://www.cdc.gov/antimicrobial-re...date-2022.html
and here...
I am a firm believer that drug resistance is a growing problem but What the new policy does is scapegoat aquarium hobbyists and small scale animal keepers and it basically leaves them with zero means of getting a prescription while misleading them in the wording of the rule that they will still have it. Its not just aquarium hobbyists but its also small farmers affected similarly. You used to have a way to treat your backyard chickens, goats and cows, or racing pigeons. etc..not any longer. Live in a rural area.. you are really out of luck. Its pretty sad that hobbyists were so disenfranchised in all of this. The laws have only recently been changed but more will follow. Not sure what we can do about it but it needed to be thrown out for discussion and so everyone understands what exactly has occurred.
I welcome your comments. I am not an expert in this and if I have interpreted this wrong let me know.
al
FDA Announces Transition of Over-the-Counter Medically Important Antimicrobials for Animals to Prescription Status | FDA
In theory that makes sense. Antibiotic misuse is a serious problem and does lead to resistant strains of bacteria. Having a Veterinarian prescribe medications makes sense. Just as it does for Doctors to prescribe them for people. If done properly a Doctor or Vet can culture bacteria and tell you what antibiotics its susceptible to. Though honestly 99% of the cultures aren't done unless its something like Strep. Its more like we rely on these experts to determine what the issue based on their experience as Doctor or Vet with the understanding they have training and experience we do not. And here in lies the first problem with the direction the FDA has gone.
Try finding a Vet that has experience with fish... Good luck there.Most Vets are geared toward mammals and a few see reptiles. Now if you do find a vet even willing to talk with you about your fish ..you will need to bring it there and of course pay the Vet the fees which if you have Cat or Dogs you know this isn't cheap. They have a business to run after all. So now the cost of treating your fish just got really expensive. But that doesn't matter to the FDA because they designed the system without hobbyist fish keepers in mind anyway. You can't legally get that prescription from a vet for your fish anyway. Why? Because in order for a Vet to write that prescription they have to have a Veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) with you and your Fish. Meaning they have been seeing you and the fish in a regular fashion. Its different state by state, but in most cases its for at least a year from what I can see. NO VCPR... no prescription.
Read The rules here....
and here the American Veterinarian Medicine Association summarizes the changes..
Ironically the articles ends by saying..
Antibiotics will still be available
Veterinarians are committed to ensuring that animal health and welfare needs are met, and that needed medications are administered in a timely manner for treating, controlling, or preventing animal disease. Animals will still receive antibiotics when there is a clear indication that they are needed. Animal owners can work with veterinarians to ensure that animals have the care and medication they need, when they need it.
Veterinarians are committed to ensuring that animal health and welfare needs are met, and that needed medications are administered in a timely manner for treating, controlling, or preventing animal disease. Animals will still receive antibiotics when there is a clear indication that they are needed. Animal owners can work with veterinarians to ensure that animals have the care and medication they need, when they need it.
Animal owners and caretakers will still have access to appropriate antimicrobials to address animal health issues by consulting with a licensed veterinarian. Specific requirements related to prescription animal drugs vary by state, including those related to the establishment of a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). This highlights the importance of animal owners and caretakers consulting with their veterinarian to create a plan to help ensure they have access to appropriate antimicrobial products to address animal health issues when the need arises.
The net result is you as fish keeper do not matter. The same goes for small back yard chicken farmers etc, that are similarly affected. The irony is your use of what amounts to mostly legacy antibiotics probably contributes very little in the overall scheme of things. Big aquaculture and big agriculture aren't even affected by this.. They already have that the VCPR in place and many employ Vets. They will still be doing what they did and the amount of antibiotics used is in the tons and far surpasses anything hobbyist contribute. At no point has the FDA or American Veterinarian Medicine Association given any statistics or number or scientific proof that Aquarium Hobbyists are a major problem. To quote them..
Any antibiotic use can contribute to antibiotic resistance, so it's important to avoid unnecessary or inappropriate uses of antibiotics. GFI 263 puts responsibility for the use of medically important antimicrobials into the hands of veterinarians, who are trained to understand not only when these medications are needed, but also what is the appropriate drug, dose, duration, and administration method to resolve infection and protect animal health and our food supply. The veterinarian's expertise is critical to ensuring the responsible use of antibiotics in animals.
Have a read sometime here..https://www.cdc.gov/antimicrobial-re...date-2022.html
and here...
I am a firm believer that drug resistance is a growing problem but What the new policy does is scapegoat aquarium hobbyists and small scale animal keepers and it basically leaves them with zero means of getting a prescription while misleading them in the wording of the rule that they will still have it. Its not just aquarium hobbyists but its also small farmers affected similarly. You used to have a way to treat your backyard chickens, goats and cows, or racing pigeons. etc..not any longer. Live in a rural area.. you are really out of luck. Its pretty sad that hobbyists were so disenfranchised in all of this. The laws have only recently been changed but more will follow. Not sure what we can do about it but it needed to be thrown out for discussion and so everyone understands what exactly has occurred.
I welcome your comments. I am not an expert in this and if I have interpreted this wrong let me know.
al
Comment