Nonmedical uses of antibiotics: time to restrict their use?
Nonmedical uses of antibiotics: time to restrict their use?
The global crisis of antibiotic resistance has reached a point where, if action is not taken, human medicine will enter a postantibiotic world and simple injuries could once again be life threatening. New antibiotics are needed urgently, but better use of existing agents is just as important. More appropriate use of antibiotics in medicine is vital, but the extensive use of antibiotics outside medical settings is often overlooked. Antibiotics are commonly used in animal husbandry, bee-keeping, fish farming and other forms of aquaculture, ethanol production, horticulture, antifouling paints, food preservation, and domestically. This provides multiple opportunities for the selection and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Given the current crisis, it is vital that the nonmedical use of antibiotics is critically examined and that any nonessential use halted.
Meek, Richard W.
5fdcf8d0-6b07-4d63-b719-8302fdd7a056
Vyas, Hrushi
6c160607-083f-4984-a41f-6f96f4028bb5
Piddock, Laura J V
cefb6727-1a1a-4109-8424-e33fa88d3ff9
7 October 2015
Meek, Richard W.
5fdcf8d0-6b07-4d63-b719-8302fdd7a056
Vyas, Hrushi
6c160607-083f-4984-a41f-6f96f4028bb5
Piddock, Laura J V
cefb6727-1a1a-4109-8424-e33fa88d3ff9
Meek, Richard W., Vyas, Hrushi and Piddock, Laura J V
(2015)
Nonmedical uses of antibiotics: time to restrict their use?
PLoS Biology.
(doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002266).
Abstract
The global crisis of antibiotic resistance has reached a point where, if action is not taken, human medicine will enter a postantibiotic world and simple injuries could once again be life threatening. New antibiotics are needed urgently, but better use of existing agents is just as important. More appropriate use of antibiotics in medicine is vital, but the extensive use of antibiotics outside medical settings is often overlooked. Antibiotics are commonly used in animal husbandry, bee-keeping, fish farming and other forms of aquaculture, ethanol production, horticulture, antifouling paints, food preservation, and domestically. This provides multiple opportunities for the selection and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Given the current crisis, it is vital that the nonmedical use of antibiotics is critically examined and that any nonessential use halted.
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Published date: 7 October 2015
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Local EPrints ID: 476627
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/476627
ISSN: 1544-9173
PURE UUID: 22561e5e-c0ea-4f3e-9eb2-be6d5679246f
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Date deposited: 10 May 2023 16:42
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:19
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Author:
Richard W. Meek
Author:
Hrushi Vyas
Author:
Laura J V Piddock
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