The Danger of Antibiotic Resistance
How Antibiotics Become Resistant
Beginning at the top left, a spontaneous mutation in a population of antibiotic-sensitive bacteria leads to antibiotic resistance in one bacterium. In the presence of antibiotic, the antibiotic-sensitive bacteria die, but any resistant bacteria survive and reproduce. Continued presence of antibiotic ensures that only resistant bacteria survive. However, if the antibiotic is removed (bottom right), spontaneous mutation to sensitivity may occur. After many generations, the proportions of sensitive and resistant bacteria reach a new balance.
The Benefits
Antibiotics cure diseases by their property of being selectively toxic to microorganisms. When administered to a patient, they damage certain types of cells in the patient's body, but do not damage others. Antibiotics used as medicines are harmful to the cells of disease-causing microorganisms, but not normally not harmful for the normal body cells. Such antibiotics are used to treat a variety of bacterial diseases. A small number of antibiotics, have also been developed to attack human cells for treatment of cancer. They are able to cure cancer by only damaging cells that are in the process of dividing.
Antibiotics are also used to treat infectious diseases in animals and to control bacteria and fungi that damage fruit and grain. Sometimes small amounts of antibiotics are added to livestock feed to stimulate the animals' growth. Small quantities of antibiotics are also used as food preservatives.
Antibiotics are also used to treat infectious diseases in animals and to control bacteria and fungi that damage fruit and grain. Sometimes small amounts of antibiotics are added to livestock feed to stimulate the animals' growth. Small quantities of antibiotics are also used as food preservatives.
The PROBLEM!!
The problem is emerging from soils and waterways polluted with traces of antibiotics and traces of bacteria encoded with antibiotic-resistant genes. These genes hold information that tells a microbe how to evade drugs designed to kill it. Apparently, bacteria are a lot smarter than we thought.
Even if that intelligent microbe isn’t capable of causing illness in humans, the DNA could find its way into the more malignant pathogens in the environment.
Scientists are finding out that the clinical realm is only part of the problem. At this point, clinicians are limiting unnecessary uses of antibiotics and encouraging patients to take the full course of their prescribed drugs (so that the most resistant are killed).
Another problem is that the antibiotics are killing off some beneficial bacteria. Beneficial Bacteria are bacteria that the body need s to defend itself from attack, attack from infections and more.
The Food Web and Human Involvement
70% of the antibiotics produced in the US go to animals that are not sick. Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs) use them as a preventative measure, but also to stimulate growth. In fact, the premature use of antibiotics is so common that they are frequently included in the regular ingredients of their feed. Surprisingly, it’s all very legal! And, it’s becoming a health crisis. It is common knowledge that the overuse of antibiotics in humans can lead to antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. With over a decade of scientific studies it is clear that the overuse of antibiotics in food animals is contributing to the creation of antibiotic resistant strains and severely reducing the ability of today’s drugs to treat animals and humans alike who are actually sick.
How Antibiotics Get into the Evioronment
Resistant strains of bacteria are commonly found on farms and have been found in soils and groundwater affected by farm effluents [5]. The abundance of resistant strains in these areas is attributed to the heavy use of antibiotics as growth promoters and therapeutics. In the 1950s, it was noted that antibiotics fed to livestock increased growth rates and animal size leading and thus increased production. It quickly became common practice to include antibiotics in animal feed. When antibiotics began to be used as food additives, there was no regulation behind it. Any antibiotic including those used for human therapy could be used [3].
Human Involvement
Use good hygiene! By washing your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water, you are helping to prevent disease - and therefore the need for antibiotics. Additionally, cooking meat thoroughly and handling food hygienically will help to prevent food-borne illnesses. Also, you should take antibiotics only when necessary.
Biotic Factors
The body that it lives inside!
Abiotic Factors
Temperature, Acid!!