M6.6 Blog: Use of Antibiotics
Antibiotics are often thought of as beneficial as we have seen the drug eliminate illnesses and infections that were previously deadly. However, we have gotten to the point where it is used a little too often. One of the items we find it in is in our meat and poultry. These are not given to animals because they have infections, they are given to animals because it changes their metabolism and increases their size. This allows farmers to sell more product. Taking these antibiotics in constant low doses as we consume meat can cause health implications later when we actually need antibiotics for health reasons.
It does not surprise me that there are increasing antibiotic resistance in areas near CAFOs. CAFOs rely heavily on antibiotics to supply them with adequate meat/poultry to sell. The more that they can sell, the more profit they will get. When farmers use antibiotics, they do not think about the implications the use has downstream. The antibiotics do not stay contained in the animal once it is injected, there are serious implications for the soil and environment immediately surrounding the area.
It was not surprising to me to read that the antibacterial wipes being used in super markets are to blame for the potential rise of antibacterial resistance. These wipes make people feel 'better' about not getting sick but it is really not necessary. I have always learned in school that there are always good bacteria and that there needs to be a balance.
Antimicrobial hospital furnishings and gowns are great in theory to prevent our health care workers from being infected with potentially deadly infections. Unfortunately, the good intention has shown to slightly increase the antibacterial infections in the hospital.
We have begun to use antibacterial products in everything, when it is only really needed in cases of human illness/infection. We need to begin thinking of the long term and downstream effects of our antibacterial use. Do the short term gains from antibacterial use outweigh the hazardous effects down the line?
Great thoughts on each of the articles! I also was not surprised reading the antibacterial wipes article, as people think it is a "savor" to protect your health but I think people forgot that we need some bacteria (aka the "good bacteria") in order for our body's to increase resistance to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree that antibacterial approaches have become so commonplace they are impacting our health on a greater scale than we may be ready for. I wonder what this is doing to the bacteria that are coming up against them and what that means for our health long term. Even if we stay away from them in our homes, will be suffer the consequences of the rest of the world applying them so readily?
ReplyDelete