The Overuse of Antibiotics


Over usage of antibiotics in humans has led to the creation superbugs including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). While these antibiotic resistant bacteria have been problematic in hospitals and health care facilities, the over use of antibiotics in agriculture has resulted in the development of livestock MRSA. Livestock MRSA has been found in the community and associated with individuals that do not work in agriculture. The presence of MRSA has caused enough alarm that the medical community has changed protocols and practices in the treatment of infection and administration of antibiotics. Agricultural policies should be developed to regulate the use and misuse of antibiotics in this industry for public health protection and prevention.

Antibiotics and antimicrobial chemicals are included more in our everyday lives more then they were in times past. Not only are they over used in agriculture, but they are now inserted into cleaning products and soaps for marketing purposes and increasing sales.  Ironically and unfortunately, the use of these chemicals in products yields to worse health outcomes compared to soap and water or products that don't contain antimicrobials like tricolsan. The natural flora that lives on the human skin is theorized to serve as protective bacteria. These bacteria keep us healthy by killing bad bacteria that we come in contact. Studies have shown that individuals who use soap with antimicrobial products are consistently sicker compared to individuals who just use soap. In addition to being not good for us, products like triclosan have been shown to infect our waters and cause harm to the natural life. Fish, when exposed to triclosan, have been shown to have reproductive problems. How many times do we need to learn that going back to the basics is best and that industry needs to be regulated?




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