Question

Antibiotics are one of the most highly utilized and important medication classes in medicine. Did you know that livestock animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens can receive antibiotics? Resistance to antibiotics is a growing concern, not only in humans but also in livestock animals. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in such a way that the effectiveness of drugs is reduced.

For your initial post, research antibiotic resistance further and address the following:

• How does antibiotic resistance develop?
• What complications can occur from antibiotic resistance, both in humans and in livestock?
• Should we decrease the use of antibiotics in humans and livestock animals?

For your reply post, address the following question:

• After reading your classmate's initial discussion post, research and report on an opposing view. After reviewing both positions, what are your thoughts?

Answer 1

* Antibiotics are medicines that help to stop the growth of bacteria by blocking their biochemical pathway.

Antibiotic resistance is the ability of microbes to withstand the effects of antibiotics. It is a consequence of evolution via natural selection. The antibiotic action is an environmental pressure created within the body. Those bacteria which develop a mutation which helps them to withstand this pressure, survive and live on t reproduce.

* The most common complication is that the antibiotic will be ineffective on the microbe and it will be difficult to cure the disease. A higher dose of the antibiotic will have to be administered which might lead to adverse side effects on the body.

* Decreasing the use of antibiotics in animals and humans might be a good idea but it is difficult to implement. There are certain diseases for which antibiotics are the only way to cure. We can decrease the use of antibiotics only if some alternative form of medication is available.

One way to reduce the use of antibiotics might be to act on the principle of 'prevention is better than cure'. Healthy and nutritious food along with hygienic surroundings might help in preventing the disease.