M6.6 Blog: Use of Antibiotics

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

This article made a great point. As humans, it would be medically inadvisable to take antibiotics as a preventative measure from known diseases. Instead we use supplements and vaccinations for disease prevention. Veterinarians treat animals similarly to humans, so it baffles me why factory farms force-feed livestock antibiotics. As a public health professional, I am all in for the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA)/Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act (PARA). The public should be made aware of the unethical practice of force-feeding livestock antibiotics (ABX) via social media and media campaigns. The government should not tolerate gross negligence on behalf of factory farms because their actions are directly killing people. While actions are being processed by the government, as public health professionals we can curb the increasing morbidity rates by educating people on how to properly read labels when purchasing meats, proper meat preparation, and cooking temperatures. 

NEARBY LIVESTOCK MAY RAISE 'SUPERBUG' RISK

Working as a medical assistant at a major hospital, I am well versed on nosocomial infections. Most of the infections at the hospital I worked at were found in patients that were post-operative surgery or elderly who were admitted. I have not personally seen any reports of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) specifically, but there were infections that definitely originated from the hospital because at one point there were a lot of cases. They found the water used to sterilize the equipment had been contaminated and surgeries were being performed. There was an entire investigation. We are taught that the easiest way to prevent these infections is by handwashing and wearing facemasks.  Since there is no direct relationship between nearby livestock and MRSA, I would continue to raise awareness to the local populace on the risks of contacting the disease, encourage handwashing, and suggesting the use of facemasks.

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

I personally feel like this issue can be solved as simple as educating individuals on the proper use of certain types of soap and wipes. This can be done by putting usage directions on the label. Regular soap should be used on human skin due to its discriminatory nature (it won’t kill all of the good microbes on your skin). The Rob Dunn article explained that anti-microbial detergents and soaps are doing more harm than good. I partly agree. Yes- non-hospital grade wipes have ineffective ingredients that are an environmental problematic. However, there are surface cleaners that have ingredients scientifically proven to eliminate deadly bacteria and viruses such as MRSA, HEP ABC, Norovirus, and respiratory diseases. CAVI-wipes are medical grade, EPA approved sanitary wipes. The downside is that use of these wipes require strict guidance because they are harmful when in direct contact with human skin. It is recommended that the surface sits for 3 min before it should be touched.

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

First of all, I would like to use the quote “if it is not broke, then do not fix it”. I agree- there needs to be more research done on the effects of agents used in preventing hospital infections for the sole purpose of  user awareness. However, not using these items is not an option. These items have done their job in reducing the risks of  nosocomial infections. This can be proved by comparing infection rates in the past to present. No item is perfect, nor do we live in a perfect scientific vacuum where we can completely eliminate the contraction of all infections. Modern medicine has come a long way in preventing of hospital infections and there still can be improvements. We need to focus on implementating agents that are low risk to human health if used properly and approved by organizations like the EPA.