Antibiotic Drugs Infiltrate Public Waterways

foobsr writes "ScienceDaily in an article points to research conducted at Colorado State University which produces evidence that antibiotics used for animal growth stimulation are making their way into the environment, among them three ionophore antibiotics exclusively used in agricultural applications."

Re:Disclaimer:

[bigsteve@dstc]

Even so, one of the chief problems with the use of antibiotics as growth promoters is that this drives the evolution of bacteria with antibiotic resistance. For example, there is now a strain of Staphylococcus Auraeus (aka "Golden Staph") that is resistant to all antibiotics approved for human use. If there are now detectable levels of antibiotics in waterways, this can only make things worse.

Frankly, if I could choose between more expensive chicken meat and dying in 10 years time because of a multi-resistant bacteria infection, I know which option I'd take. But we (the public) don't get to make that choice.

Re:Might this cause super-bacterium?

[amorsen]

Thieves are able to learn, but they evolve very slowly. Bacteria are unable to learn, but evolve very quickly. There are perhaps millions of thieves in the world, but the number of bacteria is so large that I won't even guess. Also, we have a whole range of things we can do to deter thieves, whereas with bacteria the weapons are only hygiene, immune system, and antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance is evolved step-by-step in bacteria. If a bunch of bacteria are subjected to a slight amount of antibiotics, a few of them with a tiny bit of resistance can survive and multiply. Then if they are subjected to slightly more antibiotics, the most resistant again survive and multiply, Eventually they are resistant even to high doses.

Note that this process only starts when there is a low amount of antibiotics in the environment. If there was a lot it would kill them all, even the ones that are highly resistant. So please don't use stuff that exposes bacteria to low amounts. No antibiotic soaps, no antibiotic growth-enhancers, and if you are prescribed antibiotics, don't stop taking them just because you got better. Only stop when the doctor tells you to stop.

Re:Disclaimer:

[Undefined Parameter]

Ok, someone help me out, here. We aren't supposed to stop taking antibacterials until the prescription is up, because we might make a more resistant strain... but it's often the case that the bacterial strain we're taking antibiotics for is something that our bodies need. So, if we're whiping out that bacteria in our bodies, isn't that a bad thing?

I'm pretty sure I'm wrong in what I just said, but I'd like to know where.

I'd also like to know why it would be good to use a bacteriophage in the first place. It seems like overkill... especially if it whipes out and prevents the re-establishment of bacteria our bodies depend on.

~UP

Re:Disclaimer:

[Domini]

Actually we do get to choose... at supermarkets you should only buy certified Organic produce.

Organic milk, eggs, fruit and many more items are available. This certifies the food/medicine given to chickens and cattle to be free of environmentally harmful substances such as antibiotics and repocessed animal products.

Go for Organic.

[Domini]

It's slightly more expensive, but we do have a choice to go for Organic [ota.com] produce. I can buy almost anything organic, including steak, eggs, milk, coffee, fruit and vegetables from a local Woolworths.

But then again, I guess it's difficult to change with such a huge fast-food industry.

Re:Might this cause super-bacterium?

[belg4mit]

You should stick with your second paragraph.
Our antibiotics are derived from the natural
defenses of molds etc. which took Bob knows
how long to develop. We won't be able to keep
churning out "new" antibiotics at the drop of
a hat, and it sure as hell isn't possible to
do "breed" bacteria in the wild as you propose.

Re:Disclaimer:

[bigsteve@dstc]

That stops traces of antibiotics going into you, where they may or may not do you harm. But it does not stop the much larger doses being fed to chickens on thousands of non-organic farms, etc. where the resistant bacteria are evolving.

Unless you can think of a way to persuade just about everyone to boycott non-organic chicken, etc., eating organic does not address this issue. The only solution I can think of is a legislated ban on the use of antibiotics as growth promoters.