Non-therapeutic antibiotic use in livestock may spread resistance to humans
In short: A review of existing evidence found that using antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes in food animals, such as for growth promotion, is linked to higher levels of antibiotic resistance. This resistance can spread to humans through direct contact or via the food chain, water, air, and even fertilized soils.
The review highlights how resistant bacteria move from animals to people through various environmental pathways. While modern genetics help us understand these ecological impacts, researchers noted that current models are limited by a lack of specific data regarding the amount of microbes and antibiotics present at each step of the transmission process.
Why it matters: Reducing non-therapeutic antibiotic use in animals may help lower the environmental presence of resistance genes.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Marshall and Levy (2011). Food Animals and Antimicrobials: Impacts on Human Health. Clinical Microbiology Reviews.
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