M6.6: Use of Antibiotics

ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE 101: HOW ANTIBIOTIC MISUSE ON FACTORY FARMS CAN MAKE YOU SICk

Antibiotic resistance is a silent killer that soon will become a serious problem that can directly affect the way we use antibiotics in medicine to treat human illnesses. The fact that the FDA still thinks that a voluntary guidance will be enough to stop these farmers from using antibiotics for nontherapeutic use is ludicrous. These farmers can probably see the negative consequences that people might have to face in the long run because of AR bacteria. But at the moment the quality of their products and livestock and their profit are more important to them than something that may or may not happen to other people in the far future. From a business perspective, it makes sense that they voluntary choose not to stop using antibiotic because they open the business in order to make money. That’s why we need to have an actual regulatory law that prohibit the use of antibiotic for nontherapeutic use in livestock and ensure that it’s being enforced to the full extent. This is the only way that we can reduce and prevent future exploitation of antibiotics in such manner in order to eliminate AR bacteria in our human population.

NEARBY LIVESTOCK MAY RAISE 'SUPERBUG' RISK

The discovery of MRSA in livestock is a sign that tells us the antibiotic resistance bacteria are multiplying and increasing our chance of being exposed to MRSA outside of the medical setting. This is the result of farmers’ misuse of antibiotic in order to gain more profits. They have no idea that it will trickle down into a life-threatening health issue if no initiatives are taken place to stop the practice right now. This is just the beginning of finding out that there are more AR bacteria around us than ever before.

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER THAT ANTIMICROBIAL WIPES AND SOAPS MAY BE MAKING YOU (AND SOCIETY) SICK

Overuse or misuse of antibiotic in the forms of wipes, soaps or even medicine is harmful to our bodies. Not everyone is aware of the fact that they have to completely finish their antibiotic prescription even if the symptoms they are being treated for with antibiotic has subsided or gone. Everyone assumed that anything with antibiotic is good for them because it kills off more germs and bacteria that can get them sick. Hence, they start to overuse antibiotic without knowing that it could actually harm them in ways they do not know. It’s like a double-edged sword that can help and also harm you if you don’t know how to handle it properly. Therefore, we need to educate the public and increase awareness of proper usage of antibiotic in medicine and in other products that we use daily.

A REPORT ABOUT THE NEW PRACTICE OF INCORPORATING ANTIMICROBIALS INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF HOSPITAL FURNISHINGS

Hospital furnishing with antimicrobials instantly alarms the medical experts and healthcare providers about the risk of increased antibiotic resistance in the medical setting. This new practice might in fact go against the purpose of what it is originally intended to do which is to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Perhaps before fully embracing this new practice, more studies and research need to be done to demonstrate that the benefits of additional protection from antimicrobial furnishing will outweigh the risk of antibiotic resistance. Or research methods to help reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance in the medical setting in relation to the use of antimicrobials in hospital furnishing.