Antimicrobial Resistance and the Overuse of Antibiotics
Having had a patient, who I cared for very much, pass away from septicemia related to a multidrug resistant organism (MDRO) makes this issue very personal. Recently, there has been significant work in the healthcare industry with the implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs to reduce the inappropriate use of antimicrobials. However, the general public also needs to shift its mindset about when antibiotics are necessary. As Dunn (2011) stated, a comprehensive review just determined that antibiotic products do not protect people from gastrointestinal bugs or upper respiratory infections any more so than simply washing with regular soap and water. Additionally, patients need to adjust their expectations regarding antibiotic prescriptions when diagnosed with viral infections because antibiotics have no clinical effect on viruses. This paradigm shift involves thinking more selflessly by putting the greater good of the whole above one's immediate needs.
After reading that more animals receive antibiotics than humans, with more than 80% of antibiotics in the US being sold for agricultural purposes (Food & Water Watch, 2015), clearly the food industry also needs to significantly change its antibiotic usage practices as well. Notably, livestock are the perfect breeding ground for antimicrobial resistance. Overpopulated factory farms are in much greater need of antibiotics due to poor and unsanitary living conditions (Dallas, 2012). To make matters worse, farmers cannot contain these dangerous bugs within the confines of the farm. Research has found that those who live in close proximity to farms are at greater risk to carry MRSA, even if they do not have direct contact with the livestock or the farms (Dallas, 2012). The need for livestock antibiotics can be resolved by raising animals in better living conditions by allowing them the time and space to roam.
Currently, about 23,000 people are dying each year from MDROs, of which 22% are traced back to originate from foodborne pathogens (Food & Water Watch, 2015). Hospitals are also a large source of MDROs. To help mitigate the spread of disease, some healthcare institutions are buying antimicrobial furniture, textiles, and building materials (Schettler, 2016). However, this has unknown safety and environmental consequences. Additionally, such products increase cost and provide a false sense of security. Healthcare organizations should be extremely careful and only buy products that have undergone rigorous EPA investigation (Schettler, 2016).
BBC just published an interesting article about the dire state of antibiotics. It discusses the history of antibiotics, current unsafe farming practices, and economic incentives that have cut funding for antibiotic research . Follow the link for more information: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38828079
Resources
Dallas, 2012: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=163935
Dunn, 2011: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/scientists-discover-that-antimicrobial-wipes-and-soaps-may-be-making-you-and-society-sick/
Food & Water Watch, 2015:https://usfca.instructure.com/courses/1569184/files/63504203/download?wrap=1
Schettler, 2016: https://noharm-uscanada.org/sites/default/files/documents-files/3854/Antimicrobials%20Report%202016_1.pdf
Hi Elena,
ReplyDeleteIt is scary to hear that patients died from the super bacterial such as MDRO or MRSA. No matter how much we try to protect from them, we cannot remove the possibility to get them. When I work in the hospital for my clinical rotation, I also get confused when I don't need to use the antimicrobial wipes. Thanks for sharing the resource about antibiotic resistance. I was shocked that there were so much people who died from the antibiotic resistance.
Hello Elena,
ReplyDeleteI agree that large, agricultural industries should be mandated to change their practices with antibiotics, and their treatment of their animals. In an effort to maximize profits, it appears the agricultural industry has created more problems than it has solved. However,these problems do not appear to be an impetus for them to change their practices. This fact is what confounds me. How is it that a practice, such as injecting cows and other animals with antibiotics, continue after it is found to be detrimental to both the animals' and humans' health?