The term “Superbug” refers to an organism that is resistant to antimicrobials. It is commonly understood that antibiotics are too broadly used, and certainly when it comes to Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s). But did you know that our last line of defense is being used in livestock. This may have a significant impact on how these superbugs come to be.
Colistin, an antibiotic, is rarely used to treat infections in humans due its toxicity. It is used only when all other antimicrobials are deemed ineffective. However, it is used in agriculture, meaning the animals we eat allow for horizontal transfer of mutated bacteria. Mutation of bacterial genes can happen when animals are given antibiotics such as colistin, then we eat the meat and depending on susceptibility, can be infected.
Last November, mcr-1, an antibiotic resistant gene in Escherichia coli, was reported to be found in pigs in China. It has also been found in humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made a statement at a press briefing on Tuesday, stating that military researchers found a gene, mcr-1, in the E. coli bacterium of a women living in Pennsylvania.
Per the statement:
*** “The MCR gene is important because it represents a breach in the last line of antibiotic defense: It confers protection against colistin, one of the oldest antibiotics out there, and one of the few that continues to work even against bacteria that resist multiple other drugs. Colistin was seldom used in people until recently because it is toxic, but agriculture has been using it enthusiastically for decades, which has seeded resistance through the bacterial world.”
UTI’s from E. coli (Escherichia coli) are quite common, especially for women because the bacteria, carried in feces, can more easily be spread to the urethra in women than in men.
*** “Up to 8 million urinary-tract infections occur in the United States each year, and each year, a growing and significant proportion—hard to measure, but probably at least 10 percent, or 800,000—are antibiotic-resistant.”
What does this mean for you?
- Before taking an antibiotic, make sure your doctor does a culture to determine which antibiotic it is sensitive to.
- Learn how to increase the microbial diversity in your system to create natural resistance as much possible.
- Educate yourself on where your meat comes from and look for meat that is grass-fed, no antibiotic, hormones or pesticides used.
References:
- McKenna, Maryn (2016 June, 1). Why It’s Crucial the New Superbug Was in a Urinary Tract Infection [Web log post]. Retrieved June 2, 2016, from http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com
