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."

Comments

Disclaimer:

[FooAtWFU]

From TFA:

• these levels are below concentrations that could result in environmental impact or effects on human health
• "this is still well below safe concentrations for aquatic life and humans."

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:Disclaimer:

[dunkelfalke]

this is actually the biggest problem, yes. there is a possible way to overcome the problem, though. in ussr, antibiotica were scarce. so the scientists there developed advanced bacteriophages

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.

Re:Disclaimer:

[dunkelfalke]

no, you got it wrong.

antibiothics are often broadband so they not only kill bacteria which cause the illness but also the bacteria human body needs (like the ones in the digestive tract).

bacteriophages on the other hand kill only special bacteria strains. so we can cure the illness but leave the good bacteries safe.

Might this cause super-bacterium?

[ezraekman]

A few years ago, there was a concern/rumor making the rounds that anti-bacterial soap would cause super-strains of bacteria to appear, having built up resistances to the soaps we use. A roommate asked me once if I thought this meant he should stop using the stuff. At the time, I answered by asking him if he should leave his doors unlocked, to prevent thieves from becoming smarter. However, now that antibiotics have made it out into the environment in a much larger scope, I'm forced to re-think my answer. Any thoughts?

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:Might this cause super-bacterium?

[Dr. Cody]

No antibiotic soaps, no antibiotic growth-enhancers, and if you are prescribed antibiotics, don't stop taking them just because you got better.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't "anti-bacterial," in the context of soap, just as much bullshit as "pH balanced" or "...for women"? (that is to say, purely a marketing term) From what I understand, soap is a rather nasty thing for all household bacteria, and a label such as "anti-bacterial" could be applied at will.

Add to that, as long as I've lived, I have never recognized an antibiotic's name on a bar of soap's ingredients list.

Re:Might this cause super-bacterium?

[dunkelfalke]

no, it isn't bullshit. often, triclosan is used as the antiseptic in such soaps. this chemical is very alike to antibiotics and bacteries can and will build up a resistance to it, too. should any antibiotica be used which works the same way, the bacteria would be resistant to that.

Don't forget the Prozac in our water supply...

[nano2nd]

From the UK newspaper The Observer back in the summer..

Stay Calm Everyone!

Prozac, albeit tiny amounts, now exists in our rivers and groundwater.

Excellent!

[CodeWanker]

Does this mean that drinking out of the jacuzzi in the Asian "Health Spa" I frequent protect me from any love bugs I might get there?