M6.6: Use of Antibiotics

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Antibiotic Resistance 101: How Antibiotic Misuse on Factory Farms Can Make You Sick

  • The article focuses on how antibiotics used to prevent from bacteria from growing rapidly may cause bacteria to mutate and become resistant to antibiotics. The process of this is known as "survival of the fittest." As a result, it leads to resistance and stronger bacteria that need alternative antibiotics to treat and kill the bacteria. Overall, United States agricultural practices are to just mix antibiotics with the feed to promote faster growth and prevent infections due to the packed and unsanitary concentrated animal feeding. However, by doing this process, it allows bacteria that isn't killed by the medicine to survive and reproduce. The recommendations are to buy organic meat, if possible & to only treat animals when they are sick - while assisting producers during their transition away from excessive antibiotic use, in addition to legislature to review and limit antibiotics.


 Nearby Livestock May Raise "Superbug" Risk

  • This articles mentions a study conducted that was attempting to determine if there was a cause-and-effect relationship with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and livestock. There was an association made between living near livestock farms and MRSA but no cause-and-effect. MRSA is becoming antibiotic resistant and increasing in individuals in communities where they have no known contact with livestock. It was mostly found in people who had direct contact in 2003, however MRSA has developed and nasal carriage of MRSA does not mean infection, but greater risk to infection later on. This is to say that there needs to be more research and as consumers we need to be conscious of the animals we consume which may carry this disease. The issue is of real concern as the meat industry is rather big in our diets. Measures need to be taken to reduce MRSA in livestock and better monitoring of the locations chosen to keep raise these animals.


Scientists Discover That Antimicrobial wipes and soaps may be making you (and society) sick

  • The article is very interesting in that they found antibiotic soaps and wipes with triclosan were no better than regular, old-fashioned soap to prevent gastrointestinal or respiratory illnesses. Chronically sick patients (those with asthma and diabetes) who used antibiotic soaps were associated with an increase in more frequent fevers, runny noses, and coughs. Overall, proper hand washing techniques means being less sick. This is to say that we need to be better with our hygiene and not lead ourselves to think that antibacterial products do more to protect our health. After learning this information, it makes me more conscious of the products I am buying and using for cleaning purposes.

A Report About The New Practice of Incorporating Antimicrobials into the Manufacture of Hospital Furnishings ~~~~ Antimicrobials in Hospital Furnishings: Do They Help Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs)

  • The report highlights that hospitals are purchasing more products containing antimicrobials as they are marketed as a way to reduce bacteria on surfaces with the implication that using them will reduce healthcare-associated infections. Some furnishings do, however there is not enough evidence / evaluation to determine the effectiveness of furnishings in clinical settings and contribution in reducing HAIs, if any. This topic is very unknown, thus there are possible risks and benefits for using antimicrobial hospital furnishings. One of the benefits would be reduction in HAIs, but the most worrisome risk is increasing antibiotic resistance, in addition to a false sense of security with reduced attention to cleaning and disinfection, and adverse effects to human and environmental health from exposure. Overall, this sounds like a neutral idea, but my concern would be regulation. If the chemicals were regulated in a manner where people and government were held accountable with the same guidelines/requirements, it might be possible that this direction is feasible. However, since there is no accountability and proper regulation, I honestly believe we would be creating more antibiotic resistant bacteria. 

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 3, 2018 at 9:06 PM

    Hi Daisy,
    Thank you for your post! It is scary to think that hospitals are purchasing more and more antimicrobial furniture, when in fact there is not enough evidence to prove this. I like your idea on regulation and making people accountable.
    Great thoughts!
    Kera

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 4, 2018 at 9:05 AM

    Hi Daisy,
    Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the articles and reports we read on use of antibiotics. After learning more about antibiotic use I plan to buy more organic products and also go to my local farmers market more often than I go to Trader Joes. I also agree that there needs to be additional measures taken to reduce MRSA in livestock and to better monitor communities where livestock are to prevent nasal carriage of MRSA in individuals who live near the farms.

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