The emergence of "superbugs", bacteria resistant to antibiotics, is a well-known phenomenon and the basis of recent pressure on physicians/providers to disconti

The emergence of "superbugs", bacteria resistant to antibiotics, is a well-known phenomenon and the basis of recent pressure on physicians/providers to discontinue prescribing antibiotics to humans when bacterial infection is absent, e.g., a viral infection is the problem. The use of antibiotics in animal-raising industries has long since been suspected of contributing to bacterial resistance. The article points out how this happens and specific instances where it did happen. Living in Oregon I remember when the Foster Farms incident occurred. At the time, poor hygiene practices at the farm were blamed, and the grower promised to comply with demands to clean up their act. However, I don't recall that grower's antibiotic use was reported or discussed as part of the problem, though if it was it was kept low key and escaped my attention. Given the range of growers' experience reported in the article, and difficulty of FDA maintaining oversight (so many growers, so few FDA inspectors), it would make sense to simply ban the use of "medically important" antibiotics in the chicken and other animal-growing industries. I've seen it happen, people are made seriously ill or die because of treatment-resistant bacteria and we are all at risk. Health care workers are especially vulnerable given the greater chance of exposure to resistant organisms. OTOH consumers of chicken and meat products can help themselves by assiduously adhering to hygienic practices when handling uncooked meat, and make sure foods are adequately cooked to destroy potential bacterial contamination. While incidence of contamination is low, it's not nil, and taking these precautions is only prudent.