7 ms·
>until the antibiotic washes out. This is part of the problem. If animals are given the antibiotics, then their waste products contain them, and piles of manu
by Accujack 7y ago
>until the antibiotic washes out.
This is part of the problem. If animals are given the antibiotics, then their waste products contain them, and piles of manure or water runoff/storm drains/wastewater ponds form a giant evolutionary experiment for development of drug resistant organisms.
They're not just a problem while they're in animals, they're a problem if they're used at all.
- heavyset_go 7y agoApparently, most antibiotics don't undergo metabolism in animals, and 40-90% of ingested antibiotics in livestock are excreted in urine and feces[1]. Those antibiotics go on to contaminate groundwater, and as you say, contribute significantly to antibiotic resistance[2]. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4220964/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4220964/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_use_in_livestock#Antibiotic_resistance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_use_in_livestock#An...