Use of Antibiotics

Hi everyone!


This week I will be talking about four articles and the use of antibiotics.

Nearby livestock may raise ‘superbug’ risk

It’s frightening to think that livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is being found with increasing frequency in individuals with no known contact with livestock. As mentioned in the article people working closely with livestock have a greater exposure than those that are not. Although, there has been an increase in people who do not work closely with livestock. It’s a problem that MRSA is an antibiotic resistant disease. This means that treatment can be limited due to it being a “superbug.” I think it was a good article that brings forward an issue that could become a larger problem if it is not studied.

Scientist discovers that antimicrobial wipes and soaps may be making you (and society sick)

I found this article to be really interesting because of their findings. Hand sanitizers are commonly used in different setting whether it be in the office, with your children before eating, or after a lot of hand shaking in a social gathering. To learn that antimicrobial sanitizers are not as effective as washing your hands does not seem entirely surprising to me but I feel like there may be some false advertising when it’s marketed as killing 99.9% of bacterial. I found it interesting that you are less likely to become sick and have a gastrointestinal illness if you wash your hands. It is essential that we wash our hands frequently and rely on hand-washing rather than hand sanitizers. As mentioned in the article, we need to wash our hands because it does our body good. Soap works in the best way possible to prevent a range of illnesses.

Antibiotic resistance 101: How antibiotic misuse on factory farms can make you sick

Being in the medical field I am aware of the term ‘superbug’ more frequently and of the issue at hand. I find it alarming that antibiotics are losing their effectiveness and that there are only a few replacement drugs in the pipeline. I understand that farmers would like to prevent their livestock from getting sick and give them antibiotics but I do think that’s unfair to the animal.  Not only is it unfair but it also puts a strain on public health. I thought it was especially alarming that the waste of the livestock is used as fertilizer which then seeps into water and plants being grown. It’s like a never-ending cycle of contamination. Additionally, the creation of “reservoirs of resistance” pose a threatening problem because resistant bacteria can be passed along through soil and water. The fish and other water-based animals or animals that drink water. I was glad to read that the FDA is regulating some use of antibiotics but I believe there’s a need for more regulation. Overall, I enjoyed reading this article.  

A report about the new practice of incorporating antimicrobials into the manufacture of hospital furnishings

This article was interesting because I didn’t know furniture could be made with antimicrobial properties. After reading the article I am not sure I am convinced with the use of antimicrobial furnishings. I understand that hospital administrators would like to reduce the microbial burdens on produce surface in hopes that it would reduce the healthcare-associated infection, but I think it might cause a new problem. This new problem would be the increased risk of antibiotic resistance and a false sense of security with regards to cleaning and disinfection. As I read on the previous article, I am not sure that antimicrobials will be of any benefit. I see the logic but I think it puts the population more at risk especially in hospitals where immune systems may be compromised. Overall, It's a very interesting article and worth the read. 

-Iliana