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Use of Antibiotics

Antibiotic resistant (AR) bacteria is a growing epidemic linked with farming and raising livestock, manufactured products, and a perception shift of what is “dirty” or “unclean.” The approach to raising farmed animals has transformed tremendously and facilities have resorted to antibiotic-laden animal feed in order to more rapidly grow heavier and larger animals, so that they can sell more and better meet the demands of the world’s growing population. However, this practice is causing bacterial mutation and generation of hard-to-fight bacterial, like MRSA. Several actions need to be taken to better protect the health of people, animals, and the environment. Additional research is needed to study the causal effects of high density livestock farming and MRSA in humans. Regulations for tracking and reporting antibiotic use need to be improved. Livestock producers and facilities also need to be well-supported in order to transition from non-therapeutic antibiotic use.

As we move away from the food industry and into the healthcare industry, we also discover challenges to the prevention of HAIs. Antimicrobial products are meant to maintain the cleanliness of hospital furnishings and equipment in order to minimize the risk for acquiring HAIs for patients and hospital visitors. However, they are only contributing to environmental toxicity. Administrators must be careful with the product choices by ensuring furnishings and cleaning materials, like antimicrobial soaps and wipes, are EPA regulated. Society has always feared disease, but there seems to be a heightened fear today that has motivated the invention of these soaps and wipes. Individuals fail to recognize the harmful effects these products have on public and environmental health. People must understand the importance of and adhere to simple, but proper hand washing practices in order to protect themselves from disease. Research is also necessary to better examine the effects of these items to the microbiome of health facilities and of course the human body. We need to be mindful of the drugs and chemicals we’re using. While we think that our actions are preventing us from illness, we are actually creating new, harder problems on a global scale.

Comments

  1. JudyJudeOctober 7, 2018 at 5:13 PM

    Absolutely! What began as an innocent concept of fighting bacteria grew into such a crisis as it transitioned to livestock in a non-therapeutic antibiotic use. Damaging effects that resulted from mass production on animal farming.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Antonio SorianoNovember 9, 2018 at 2:28 PM

    Your ending sentence is such a powerful statement. "While we think that our actions are preventing us from illness, we are actually creating new, harder problems on a global scale." It's important to have some foresight as we look into the harmful effects of Antibiotic resistant bacteria and antimicrobial products.

    ReplyDelete

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