Antibacterial Communication

Antibacterial Communication

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
Antibiotic resistance is a problem for both humans and animals, but solutions stall in the blame game between the medical and animal health communities. A book from Princeton's Dr. Laura Kahn attempts to cut to the truth of the matter and to offer some solutions. Kahn embarked on a study that looked at how the government responded to biological threats. Her work revealed a communications void. As I have reported many times in the recent past, I am not positive that all physicians are quite as keenly aware of the anabiotic crisis as they should be. Again, communication seems to be a medical liability.

In Sweden stringent regulations of antibiotics use in livestock contributed to rising domestic meat prices compared to cheaper imported meat, Kahn writes. In Europe, whole genome sequencing suggests that a bacteria known as VRE in human patients might have come from pet dogs rather than livestock, as initially suggested.

 

Kahn says that we must collaborate and use better tools — like whole genome sequencing — if we are to fully understand the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria

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