Antibiotic resistance
is a form of drug resistance where microorganisms are able to survive, even
after exposure to antibiotics. Antibiotic resistant genes pose a worldwide
human health risk. With this said, “China is the world’s biggest producer and
consumer of antibiotics in the world, with at least 46 percent of antibiotics
being you in livestock”. Chinese researchers did a study where they analyzed
manure from three commercial pig farms in China. They then, looked at the
results and compared them to manure from pigs that had never been fed
antibiotics and soil from a “pristine forest”, also in China. The results from
this study: 149 “unique” antibiotic resistant genes were found in the
commercial farm manure, which is three times more than the control samples. Therefore,
the issue becomes the misuse of antibiotics in Chinese farms, which may risk
being spread worldwide through not only the manure but fertilizer run-off. “The
genes can be spread via microbes in manure, compost or the soil, as these enter
rivers, leach into underground water, are transported by the wind or human
travel, or in agricultural products such as gardening compost”. Another issue
that can become of this one is if the resistance creates superbugs, which are
germs that are resistant to a combination of antibiotics. The issue is trying
to be resolved, but different countries are going about it different ways. For example,
the European Union has banned the use of antibiotics as a growth promoter and
the United States as well as Australia has been banning more classes of
antibiotics. However, a global framework is still needed to ensure its effectiveness.
Professor Matthew Cooper of the University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular
Bioscience, states it clearly when he says, “Animals get transported between
countries, as do people. Infectious disease is no longer a national issue, it’s
a global issue.”
Page Odom
2/20/13
2:56 PM
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