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So antibiotics in animal feed aren't usually for protection from infection. They promote growth and bulk via mechanisms that aren't really well understood and w

So antibiotics in animal feed aren't usually for protection from infection. They promote growth and bulk via mechanisms that aren't really well understood and were discovered somewhat by accident when someone started feeding waste from antibiotic production to chickens. Really: http://amrls.cvm.msu.edu/pharmacology/antimicrobial-usage-in-animals/non-therapuetic-use-of-antimicrobials-in-animals/use-of-antibiotics-in-animals-for-growth-promotion http://amrls.cvm.msu.edu/pharmacology/antimicrobial-usage-in... http://www.ncsu.edu/project/swine_extension/healthyhogs/book2004/thakur/thakur.htm http://www.ncsu.edu/project/swine_extension/healthyhogs/book...

makmanalp 12y ago
True! But the side effect of massive use seems to be the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bugs.
- voxic11 12y ago
  Do you have any evidence of that? I thought most antibiotics used on farm animals were already not commonly used on humans?
  - AustinScript 12y ago
    I don't see a peer reviewed study but it does appear to be the FDAs position : "Bacteria evolve to survive threats to their existence. In both humans and animals, even appropriate therapeutic uses of antibiotics can promote the development of drug resistant bacteria. When such bacteria enter the food supply, they can be transferred to the people who eat food from the treated animal." I suggest reading the article to really understand what they are saying rather than dissecting the little tidbit I picked out but it sounds as if it doesn't matter if the exact same drug is used to treat both humans and animals, there is still a threat.
  - ceejayoz 12y ago
    NPR's story yesterday indicated that Perdue had previously been including gentamycin along with vaccinations of chicken eggs, which appears to be used in humans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentamicin#Medical_uses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentamicin#Medical_uses
- micro_cam 12y ago
  Absolutely, using them on a massive scale in sub therapeutic doses is what you would do if you wanted to create an evolutionary pressure towards antibiotic resistant bacteria. I thought that would be clear to anyone who read my comment. Obviously more study on exactly what creates the medically relevant resistant bacteria is needed but based on the trend so far I don't think the prudent thing to do is start curtailing non essential anti-biotic use.

makmanalp 12y ago

True! But the side effect of massive use seems to be the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bugs.

voxic11 12y ago
Do you have any evidence of that? I thought most antibiotics used on farm animals were already not commonly used on humans?
- AustinScript 12y ago
  I don't see a peer reviewed study but it does appear to be the FDAs position : "Bacteria evolve to survive threats to their existence. In both humans and animals, even appropriate therapeutic uses of antibiotics can promote the development of drug resistant bacteria. When such bacteria enter the food supply, they can be transferred to the people who eat food from the treated animal." I suggest reading the article to really understand what they are saying rather than dissecting the little tidbit I picked out but it sounds as if it doesn't matter if the exact same drug is used to treat both humans and animals, there is still a threat.
- ceejayoz 12y ago
  NPR's story yesterday indicated that Perdue had previously been including gentamycin along with vaccinations of chicken eggs, which appears to be used in humans. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentamicin#Medical_uses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentamicin#Medical_uses
micro_cam 12y ago
Absolutely, using them on a massive scale in sub therapeutic doses is what you would do if you wanted to create an evolutionary pressure towards antibiotic resistant bacteria. I thought that would be clear to anyone who read my comment. Obviously more study on exactly what creates the medically relevant resistant bacteria is needed but based on the trend so far I don't think the prudent thing to do is start curtailing non essential anti-biotic use.