Use of Antibiotics

Antibiotic Resistance 101 

According to Food & Water Watch (2015), non-therapeutic use of antibiotics is compromising the health of our communities, particularly affecting those vulnerable populations with underdeveloped and/or compromised immune systems. It's interesting to read that "80% of antibiotics...are sold for agricultural purposes", which is quite terrifying, considering the power of the agricultural and pharmaceutical industry. Due to this collaboration, I find that it can be extremely challenging, if not impossible, to promote safer/non-pharmacological alternatives. The article suggests the passing of the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA)/Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance Act (PARA). However, I feel like the money coming from these two large powerhouses would prevent it from passing. 

In addition, it makes me mad to think of the fact that I can become antibiotic resistant, even if I do not consume the animal protein in which the problem originates. Even if you don't eat meat, simply drinking contaminated water can make you resistant as well. 

Nearby Livestock May Raise "Superbug" Risk 

When I first read of MRSA in undergrad, it's connection was mostly to the contraction of MRSA within the healthcare setting. However, we are now seeing it present itself in other more uncommon settings, such as livestock operations. I believe this is related to the amount of antibiotics being fed to these animals, which is then excreted by the animal, entering soils, waterways, and eventually homes. For this reason, people are being exposed to high amounts of antibiotics, rendering their immune systems compromised, introducing antibacterial resistance bugs, such as MRSA. I believe there needs to be more transparency about MRSA in dense livestock environments, informing people of the risks and how to prevent them.

Antimicrobial Wipes and Soaps are Making us Sick   

This article brought me back a couple of year to when the triclosan ban swept the media sphere. I remember my mom tossing our triclosan-laden hand and dish soaps, only to go back the the safer traditional options of plain soap. I appreciate the step made by the government to eliminate this harmful chemical from the consumer's environment. However, I'm upset to learn that triclosan is used to treat products in order to prevent growth of bacteria on simple items such as lunchboxes. I'd love to conduct more research to determine if this is still a common practice, or if it's been banned along with triclosan in our soaps. 

I'm also familiar with normal flora and it's importance to our body. This article does a great job of explaining how chemicals, such as triclosan, can kill off the good bacteria that is protecting us, thus compromising our health. 

Incorporating Antimicrobials into Hospital Furnishings 

This article truly baffled me. In addition to what was learned in the article on triclosan, I believe that introducing antimicrobials into basic consumer products and hospital furnishings can compromise someone's immune system. This can be done by killing normal flora that our body uses to protect us from truly bad bacteria. According to Schettler (2016), "Antimicrobial use [is found] in other consumer products, including items for food production and storage, personal care, clothing, household goods, and building materials...". Just as triclosan has been banned, I believe banning antimicrobials in such vulnerable settings is essential, especially if there are no proven benefits. Even though "Healthcare-associated infections have always been a formidable challenge in hospitals and are major causes of morbidity and mortality today" (Schettler, 2016), I believe that including these chemicals into our everyday environment can do us more harm than good.