ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE 101: HOW ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE ON FACTORY FARMS
CAN MAKE YOU SICK
It is impossible not to use antibiotic in current environment even though we know that the resistant to antibiotic will develop until any antibiotic can't fix new bacteria. Antibiotic in industrial agriculture is supposed to be used for sick animals, which can make people get sick if they eat them. However, after "researchers discovered that a small, constant dose of antibiotics helped animals grow faster", animals have been feeding with antibiotics for fast growth. I was shocked by this fact. I mean they were healthy animals, but they take antibiotic for human's selfish purpose! And who would eat all of antibiotics that animals consume? That is us! Eventually, we end up eating all antibiotics by eating animals, which contain large amount of antibiotics! Whose responsibility for this problem is that? As the article mentioned that "once AR(antibiotic resistant) genes have developed and spread, they are exceedingly hard to control", how could the antibiotics have been using easily in industrial agriculture without restriction? Now, we know that "antibiotic use in agriculture may affect resistance patterns in bacteria that live naturally in the human digestive tract" and it seems late to know. Personally, I love to eat raw beef or fish, which is one of the traditional Korean foods(good thing is that I only eat in the restaurant. They know better how to cook the raw meat in safe way). This article reminded me that eating raw meat is one way of spreading antibiotic resistant. Even though I don't eat the raw meet, I can get still sick by touching undercooked meat, which I was lucky about. In my perspective, I would consider AR is another form of disaster in nature. Not only farmers who grow them can get MRSA, but also neighbors of farmer can get it too.
It was interesting to see how much different between Europe and U.S to approach for this issue. EU has banned "non therapeutic use of antibiotic for growth promotion". While Europe was banning the antibiotics for growth, "the sales of antibiotics for agriculture increased by 16 percent in the U.S". AR is very serious problem in public health and we have responsibilities to prevent deaths from AR.
"CDC estimates that at least 2 million American each year experience Antibiotic-resistant infection, leading to at least 23,000 deaths"
NEARBY LIVESTOCK MAY RAISE 'SUPERBUG' RISK
It is scary to hear about the bacteria that is impossible to destroy. These bugs became stronger and stronger from chemicals that human used to kill them. It was used to be associated with "hospitals and other health care facilities". However, currently, it can attack the livestock as the article said and that infect human as well. It is public health professionals' duty to investigate how and where human get infected from MRSA. The epidemic information about MRSA is significant for public health in order to prevent spreading of infection. This would impact on farmer and market in negative way.
SCIENTISTS DISCOVER THAT ANTIMICROBIAL WIPES AND SOAPS MAY BE MAKING YOU (AND SOCIETY) SICK
It is fun to read since I am one of people who use antimicrobial wipe and soaps frequently. After having clinical experience as a nursing student, cleaning with antimicrobial became one of my habit in normal life. However, "Most people who use antibiotic soap are no healthier than those who use normal soap. AND those individuals who are chronically sick and use antibiotic soap appear to get sicker". Therefore, the antimicrobial wipes that I use for my table and soap did really do something for my body. In fact, it could be harm for my body. Furthermore, I realized why using antimicrobial wipe is bad for environmental health. The result of using antimicrobial soaps is feeding strong bacterial or affecting fish spreading in the water. I like how the author wrote because it really convinced me not to buy antimicrobial wipes or soaps at home anymore. However, we still need them in particular at the hospital where vulnerable people stay.
A REPORT ABOUT THE NEW PRACTICE OF INCORPORATING ANTIMICROBIALS INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF HOSPITAL FURNISHINGS
This article was helpful to remind people who use antimicrobials at the hospitals probably more than anyone else. It is rule to disinfect our hand and objects each time although we know there is no way we can remove all the germs and bacterial. Yes, we need to clean the bacterials that would be harmful to the patients. However, it is the time to think about that we sometimes over protect from bacterias, which can cause more serious problems later. This is because we cannot see the bacterias within human's vision. As a result of developing stronger antimicrobials to kill new bacterias, we ended up having super bugs such as MRSA. As I mentioned above, it is an another form of disaster in public health. I know it would be very challenge to make a balance when to use antimicrobials in the hospitals since infection is one of most sensitive issue to take care of the patients. Even if all surgery and procedure were successful, infection can kill the patients. Therefore, it is important to learn what CDC guide for "preventing transmission of infectious agents in health care setting" and know the difference between disinfection and cleaning to adjust when to use them in different situation.
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Hi Yeana,
ReplyDeleteI too have become borderline obsessive about germs after working in a hospital. I can attribute this to two reasons: knowing how dirty hospitals are and seeing the horrible consequences MDRO infections can cause. Some practices I use outside of the hospital to remain clean while avoiding antimicrobials include the following: removing shoes prior to entering my car/leaving them at the hospital if able; showering immediately after getting home; washing my scrubs in hot water separately from my other clothes; and frequently washing my hands for 15-20 seconds with normal soap and water by using the 7 steps of hand hygiene. Hope this helps give you some other ideas!
Hey Yeana,
ReplyDeleteI imagine that for those cultures, like Korean culture, who use raw meats as traditional dishes, the people of those cultures may have an increased resistance to infection from raw-meats. However, considering that much of the meat in the United States comes from factory-farms, I would definelty be cautious when consuming raw-meat, and want to know that the meat did not come from a factory-farm, prior to consuming it.
I do agree that it is incredibly irresponsible for any agency, government or otherwise, to allow the use of antibiotics in agriculture for any other purpose than a medicinal one. The consequences for the overuse of antibiotics has been most severe, to the point that we have virtually no control of the after-effects.
As to the use of antimicrobial soaps, it is interesting that to me that we have, in a way, been brainwashed by marketing, to believe that these products will really help us stay clean. However, the science contradicts this, yet science is not always listened to when money becomes involved.