Question

Over 50 percent of all sales of medically important antibiotics in the United States are for livestock use. Why is this problematic for humans?

Answer 1

Most important problem of using antibiotics for livestock is the development of antibiotic drug resistant pathogens. These resistant pathogen can get transmitted to human in various ways, for example, by consumption of uncooked animal products, handling animal waste, water or soil contaminated with animal feces, etc. As a result of drug resistance, common infections which were once treatable, are now getting difficult to treat. Commonly used drugs are becoming ineffective, and there is a constant need to produce newer drugs that are able to control the growth of resistant pathogen.