Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm

Educational Activities to Promote Appropriate Use of Antibiotics in Animals

To promote appropriate antibiotic use in veterinary medicine and animal agriculture, CDC launched Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm in 2004. The program, often referred to as Get Smart on the Farm, has a sister program, CDC's Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work program, which promotes the appropriate use of antibiotics for human illness.

Get Smart on the Farm Goals

• Promote appropriate use of antibiotics in animals through collaboration, communication, and education
• Serve as a liaison among the public health community, veterinarians, and food animal producers
• Build relationships between CDC and the animal agriculture industry within the United States

Major Program Activities

• Supported state and local health department programs on appropriate antibiotic use in animals
• Supported the development of a veterinary medical school curriculum

NEW: The Antimicrobial Resistance Learning Site (AMRLS) is now available on the website of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University (MSU). The AMRLS is an online, interactive suite of educational materials aimed at teaching and promoting the prudent use of antibiotics in animal agriculture and veterinary medicine. The site was developed at MSU and the modules were written by faculty at MSU and the University of Minnesota, with guidance and support from CDC.