Antibiotic Abuse in Animal Agriculture: Exacerbating Drug Resistance in Human Pathogens
Titel:
Antibiotic Abuse in Animal Agriculture: Exacerbating Drug Resistance in Human Pathogens
Auteur:
Goldman, Emanuel
Verschenen in:
Human and ecological risk assessment
Paginering:
Jaargang 10 (2004) nr. 1 pagina's 121-134
Jaar:
2004-02
Inhoud:
Most of the antibiotics produced in the U.S. are fed to farm animals routinely as “growth promoters,” and to facilitate “factory farming.” Unfortunately, this places selective pressure on bacteria to develop antibiotic-resistance. Genes that neutralize antibiotics wind up protecting disease-causing germs. We have seen a tremendous increase in antibiotic-resistance in common food poisoning bacteria like Salmonella, but the problem is even worse than food-borne diseases. Bacteria also can rapidly transfer and spread antibiotic-resistance to other bacterial species. Therefore, diseases not even related to food become resistant to antibiotics, and hence much greater threats. For example, Staphylococci resistant to every available antibiotic have been isolated in recent years. Acquisition of antibiotic-resistance by bioterrorism weapons are also a concern. Use of antibiotics in animal feed, by selecting for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, is thus a global threat to human health. Major scientific and medical organizations have concluded that agricultural uses of antibiotics pose a threat to public health. We need prescriptions for these drugs, yet the animal-food industries use them casually. This irresponsible misuse of antibiotics is unilaterally disarming our species from our precious last line of defense, and devastating epidemics may be the legacy of hunger for inexpensive meat. Legislation is urgently needed to curb this practice.
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