'Tackle antibiotic resistance in animals, soil as well'

MUMBAI: If you thought antibiotic resistance was only about people indiscriminately popping antibiotics, think again.
A new study published in medical journal Scientific Reportson Wednesday shows that antibiotic-resistant genes are freely crossing environmental, agricultural and clinical boundaries. In other words, antibiotic resistant strains are not only found in humans but also in soils and the animal kingdom.
Tackling antibiotic resistance on only one front is a waste of time because resistant genes are freely crossing environmental, agricultural and clinical boundaries,'' said the research led by the UK-based Newcastle University.
The researchers analysed soil archives from Denmark dating back to 1923 and found a parallel between the appearance of antibiotic resistance in medicine and similar antibiotic resistant genes detected over time in agricultural soils treated with animal manure.
A press release put up by the university online quoted the study's lead author David Graham as saying, The observed bridge between clinical and agricultural antibiotic resistance means we are not going to solve the resistance problem just by reducing the number of antibiotics we prescribe in our GP clinics.'' He said we have to reduce use across all sector.