June 06, 2004
The Bugs Who Eat Us
Printable Version | [eMail this article!] |The UK's National Health Service (NHS) states there has been a six fold increase in MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infections. The same article reports that the US CDC (Center for Disease Control) is concerned about VRSA (vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), and real concerns that some MRSA and VRSA may hybridize - there has already been one incident of this. What are they talking about? SUPER BUGS. Bacteria that are increasingly resistant to any known treatment and spreading from hospitals to the community.
While people may (foolishly) argue over human impact on the environment, there is no doubt that we have created these bugs. We have created them through the widespread use of antibiotics, and more recently antibacterial products. The public has largely been blamed for the creation because patients "demand" unnecessary prescriptions of antibiotics. Certainly the over use of antibiotics is a part of the problem. However, it is top on the list because the wide use of antibiotics on the food supply is being kept behind curtain one.
Yes, agricultural practices are directly linked to antibiotic resistance. It is unknown how much of the antibiotic use in the US is tied to agriculture, but it is at least 50%. Some estimates are over 70%. Antibiotics are also liberally used on crops under the theory that it enhances their growth. But a new culprit is now linked - GM crops. In fact, if you do a search on antibiotics food supply it is difficult to get past the GM links.
Why would antibiotic resistance be linked to genetically modified crops? Because the telling marker of a transgenic "success" is antibiotic resistant markers. So with all the problems that many of us have with GM crops and animals, here is another one.
But humans are implicated in yet another way in the antibiotic resistant microbe evolution - the use of antibacterial products. The original cases of MRSA came out of the hospitals. This was not surprising, because of the heavy use of antibacterial cleaning supplies in hospitals. A resistance to such products began to appear, and stronger antibacterials were created which created stronger variations of the "bugs." But antibacterials have found widespread usage outside the hospital environment - in our homes and work areas. We have antibacterial soaps, scrubs and cleaning products. Not to mention antibacterial air (treatments.) The use of these products are certainly implicated in both creating superbugs and decreasing natural resistance to them. Antibacterial soaps may be particularly suspect in that they are used directly on the skin and kill healthy as well as dangerous bacteria. In doing so, they allow the proliferation of resistant staph bacteria which can possibly "colonize" the individual.
In my opinion, the overuse of antibacterials - particularly by individuals plays upon a socialized fear of "germs." Children are socialized from early on about "germs" - invisible monsters who will "get" you. Parents are cautioned about clean environments and keeping their children safe. The marketing world tells us all that "The only good bug is a dead bug." And in my opinion, this war on germs (and bugs) is directly tied to a socialized idea that "Cleanliness is next to godliness." Advertisers just extend the idea.
So there you have it. WE are creating the superbugs that are likely to explode upon the world. No ifs, and, or buts about it. The evidence is clear. The evidence is unequivocal. But, we are still allowing the advertising and sale of antibacterial products. We are still putting massive amounts of antibiotics into the food supply (though there are efforts to decrease this). Doctors have made prescriptions for antibiotics more restrictive. We are still allowing GM crops and products to be developed and released in the environment (in fact we are loosening regulations, and strong arming for global use). They are trying to develop a new family of antibiotics restricted from agricultural use. So weighing all of this, we are probably speeding up the mutation of these bugs rather than slowing them down.
For More Information
CDC MRSA Fact Sheet
FDA Antibiotic Resistance Fact Sheet
The Problem of Antibiotic Resistance
WHO - Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance
CDC - Antibacterial Household Products: Cause for Concern
NPR Special Report: How Safe is the Food Supply?
Antimicrobial Use in Food Animals (Microbe World)
Genetic engineering causing increased antibiotic resistance.
The Use of Antibiotic Resistance Markers to Develop Biotech Crops
Posted by rowan at June 6, 2004 07:54 AM | TrackBack | Printable Version | [eMail this article!] |I have seen the effets of antibiotics in cows, Myyoungest son does just fine on organic milk but not the normal milk. This may be the leading reason behind food and medicine allergies.
Posted by: Jack at June 6, 2004 10:47 AMI have exactly that problem. Antibiotics are not removed during processing. I have also had antibiotic reactions to some meats and even fruit one time. I would agree that folks may be showing allergies not to a particular food, but to the antibiotics (or other chemicals) in the food.
Posted by: rowan at June 6, 2004 10:50 AMJack, you beat me to it.
Others,
There was a time when my three older children and I lived in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. I knew if I became too much of a hypochondriac, I was going to have sick kids constantly. I was able to keep them relatively healthy by avoiding constant sterilizing and other forms of overprotection (constant medications, etc.). Strange as it may sound. They now have stronger immune systems than some of the other children I know.
I am immune suppressed, and I don't take antibiotics, milk, red meat and try not breathe the air. I am like the canary in the mine, I can tell you when the pollution is high without reading it on the news, I can only eat organic food, and only buy local products that I know the background.
If I eat any processed food I will get sick, have't had any red meat in fourteen years, have to be careful about fish and chickens and turkeys, well you can guess.
I also watch out for "jet trail days" I can tell you when they are about without looking at the sky....but on the upside I am a sustaing resource for the medical community.
Posted by: Bill Whitlatch at June 6, 2004 04:32 PM