Antibiotic Over-Use in Animal Feed

There's a lot of talk about antibiotic over prescription and over usage and how that has contributed to the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Food Consumer has an article about the dangers of antibiotic over-use not in humans but in animal feed provided to animals used for their meat in the United States. Already a practice disallowed in Europe, in the United States animals bred for consumption still receive antibiotics in their animal feed as a practice. There is some strong evidence that this practice has contributed to the increase in resistant bacteria.Antibiotic resistant bacteria is a growing concern. Antibiotics have been a staple of fighting bacterial infections for decades. Now, their effectiveness is threatened. One common bacterial infection is sinusitis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a resistant bacteria that can cause sinus infection, among other serious infections. The spread of MRSA has been a growing concern of health care professionals for some time but this bacteria is not alone. The way to stem the tide of these resistant strains of bacteria is to reconsider the current practices for the use of antibiotics and pursue alternatives. In addition, taking steps as individuals to improve our immune systems through healthy eating and regular exercise will go far in reducing the effect of these bacteria. If you have been suffering from a sinus infection that has persisted for more than 8 weeks, and are concerned about how to approach treatment, contact our office to set an appointment.