Identity

Colistin & its formulations is a cationic polypeptide antibiotic mixture and an antimicrobial compound that is strictly prohibited for use within the poultry sector.

Overview

Colistin and its formulations are classified as banned substances in the Indian poultry industry. Originally categorized under antimicrobial chemotherapy as an oral feed supplement for growth promotion and enteric disease control, a complete ban was enacted on 19.07.2019 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) under the Colistin Prohibition Act to mitigate antimicrobial resistance. It is classified by the WHO as a "Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobial" for human medicine.

Structured Facts

Indications

Banned Substance (formerly used for growth promotion and enteric disease control).

Mechanism of Action

Acts as a surfactant, binding to the negatively charged lipid A portion of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. This binding displaces divalent cations (Mg2+ and Ca2+), disrupting membrane permeability and causing rapid cell lysis.

Dosage

Not specified in sources (Prohibited)

Withdrawal Period

Not applicable (complete ban) / Zero Tolerance.

Contraindications

Complete ban on use in poultry, food-producing animals, aquaculture, and animal feed supplements.

Adverse Effects

High risk of selecting plasmid-mediated resistance (mcr-1 gene).

Quantitative Data

• Withdrawal: Banned

Relationships

• Resistance: Rapid global spread of plasmid-mediated resistance (the mcr-1 gene) linked to animal feed additives.