M6.6 Blog: Use of Antibiotics

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

This article is about how antibiotics are inappropriately utilized on factory farms and they are creating adverse health outcomes from the consumption of the farm products.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported in 2011 that 80 percent of antibiotics in the United States are sold for agricultural purposes.Antibiotic-resistant (AR) bacteria can spread from farm animals to humans via food, via animal-to-human transfer on farms and in rural areas, and through contaminated waste entering the environment.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 2 million Americans each year experience AR infections, leading to at least 23,000 death. The article also offers plausible solutions, limitations and successful interventions that tackles this issue.

NEARBY LIVESTOCK MAY RAISE 'SUPERBUG' RISK

The superbug is MRSA (methicllin-resistant staphlococcous aureus) and nearby livestock increases your susceptibility to being infected by the superbug, known as Livestock associated-MRSA. This was first introduced in Netherlands in 2003 exclusively found in persons with direct contact to livestock.Future work should investigate the relationship between intensive livestock operations in the U.S. and exposures to drug-resistant microbes including MRSA".Although the study found an association between living near livestock farms and contracting MRSA, it did not establish a cause-and-effect relationship.


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

This article focuses on the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents, such as wipes and soaps and draws to the conclusion that they're actually making all os us sick. A common compound found in these agents is  triclosan and/or the chemically similar triclocarban. I was unaware of this compound and the harm that it causes us. From my research I found that FDA has banned triclosan in antibacterial hand soaps, effective September 2017. To avoid triclosan and other questionable chemicals, don’t buy consumer products that claim to be “antibacterial."Triclosan is linked to liver and inhalation toxicity. Even low levels of triclosan may disrupt thyroid function. Wastewater treatment does not remove all of the chemical, sending it into lakes, rivers and water sources, where it is very toxic to aquatic life. In Aiello's words, "There was little evidence for an additional impact of new products, such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers or antibacterial soaps compared with nonantibacterial soaps, for reducing either gastrointestinal or respiratory infectious illness symptoms." We have protective bacteria that can be found on varying surfaces on our body and use of antimicrobial agents is to get rid of harmful microbes, however these agents can't tell the difference between the good and bad bacteria so it wipes it all out. This in turn makes us vulnerable and allows room for harmful mirobes to recolonize before the our immune systems can react thus causing us to fall ill.
We can forego the use of antibacterial wipes and soaps, A study of nearly eight thousand individuals in five U.S. cities found almost half of the participants failed to wash their hands after going to the bathroom. In this light, no mystery salve is necessary, no miracle cure, special wipe, or magic. We need to wash our hands, because soap does the body good, at least in all the ways studied so far.

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


This was in depth report that discussed the incorporation of antimicrobials into hospital furnishings, the advantages and disadvantages were greatly discussed. GRADE classification scheme for grading the quality of evidence provided recommendations for grading evidence and guiding recommendations for clinical care. They can also aid in assessing interventions intended to reduce the risk of HAIs. The report also defined key components such as, Sterilization, disinfection and cleaning: How do they differ and how are they evaluated? and what does "antimicrobial" mean?

Comments

  1. snaymallickOctober 7, 2018 at 4:00 PM

    I agree that we need to constantly wash our hands to prevent any microbes to live on our bodies constantly. Just using soap does not effectively remove grime. We need to wash hands and be aware that soap will not always remove everything.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownOctober 11, 2018 at 10:55 AM

    Hi Claudia,

    In reading these four summaries, I am reminded of the harmful effects that antimicrobials and antibiotics have on ourselves and on our environment. From the food that we eat to the products we use to disinfect, we are doing more harm than good to ourselves, our immune system, and where we live and work.

    I became vegetarian about 1.5 years ago for one reason that has turned into many. First, it was because of my personal health. Considering all of the unhealthy techniques that are used to grow our food, I realized that eating something like meat did more harm than good. As I began learning more about our food system, I realized that I was also practicing a diet that was beneficial to animals and the environment, while reducing my carbon footprint.

    ReplyDelete

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