What does the latest WHO classification mean for antibiotic use? 10 June 2024 10 June 2024 3 minute read 3 minute read By: By: FAI Farms EuropeEncouraging progress has been made over recent years to reduce antibiotic use in food-producing animals. But are these outstanding achievements under threat with the downgrade of macrolides in the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of medically important antibiotics? The WHO list of medically important antibiotics is part of its attempts to manage the global risk posed by antibiotic resistance (AMR). But macrolides remain a critically important antibiotic (CIA) indicating their use should still be minimised.