Fluoroquinolones in industrial poultry production, bacterial resistance and food residues: a review

Fluoroquinolones are antimicrobial agents frequently used in poultry production and in human medicine. The use of such substances must comply with safety criteria, including withdrawal periods, doses, and treatment duration, as their misuse and abuse may cause bacterial resistance and the presence of residues in edible tissues. Consequently, the consumption of animal products with fluoroquinolone residues may result in the transmission of resistant bacteria. In addition, if residues are beyond the acceptable levels, fluoroquinolone active metabolites are harmful to human health. This article presents a review on the use of antimicrobials of the fluoroquinolone class in poultry production, focusing on the development of bacterial resistance to these drugs and the presence of their residues in poultry products.

Fluoroquinolones in industrial poultry production, bacterial resistance and food residues: a review

Fluoroquinolones are antimicrobial agents frequently used in poultry production and in human medicine. The use of such substances must comply with safety criteria, including withdrawal periods, doses, and treatment duration, as their misuse and abuse may cause bacterial resistance and the presence of residues in edible tissues. Consequently, the consumption of animal products with fluoroquinolone residues may result in the transmission of resistant bacteria. In addition, if residues are beyond the acceptable levels, fluoroquinolone active metabolites are harmful to human health. This article presents a review on the use of antimicrobials of the fluoroquinolone class in poultry production, focusing on the development of bacterial resistance to these drugs and the presence of their residues in poultry products.(AU)

[Curve of normal fetal weight values estimated by ultrasound according to gestation age]. / Curva dos valores normais de peso fetal estimado por ultra-sonografia segundo a idade gestacional.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the evolution of estimated fetal weight in normal pregnancies in Campinas, Brazil, between 20 to 42 weeks. DESIGN AND METHODS: A descriptive study was performed, including 2,874 normal pregnant women studied through routine obstetric ultrasound with fetal biometry, using the Hadlock (1991) formula for fetal weight estimation. Data were evaluated by fitting a curve with the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of fetal weight for gestational age, subsequently submitted to a smoothing procedure by quadratic polynomial adjustment. RESULTS: the 50th percentile was 368g at 20th week, 1,512g at 30th, and 3,417g at 42nd week. There was a mean weight increase of 200g per week from the 27th to 38th week, when the gain decreased. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of a Brazilian curve of normal estimated fetal weight will allow for prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of deviations.