Antibiotic fight overlooks facts

In Capital Press' May 13 article "Pew targets antibiotics," supporters of antibiotic overuse continue to overlook the facts.

Most important, four decades of rigorous science and research confirm that the routine use of antibiotics in food animal production promotes the development of dangerous drug-resistant bacteria that can spread to humans -- a concern shared by the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization and other leading medical groups.

We can feed the world without increasing the threat of antibiotic-resistant infections in people. Other industrialized nations are doing it; so can we.

Laura Rogers

Project director

Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming

Washington, D.C.