Kevin E.

Johnsen
Professor Lee Patterson
ENC 2135
08 November 2015
Antibiotic Resistance Who is to Blame?
Prokaryotes, the product of millions of years of evolution, have undergone alterations of
its own genetic structure and metabolic pathways to accommodate to an ever changing
environment. Prokaryotic cells, also known as bacteria, progressed through each generation
attempting to produce near identical daughter cells, only differing in slight mutations due to
natural selection. In recent years Prokaryotes have undergone a decisive change, rendering
certain antibiotics ineffective. Antibiotics are the primary defense against bacteria used
throughout the world by mankind, though due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in new
strands of bacteria it has begun to pose a greater threat to humanity. Was the emergence of
antibiotic resistant bacteria the result of extensive use of antibiotics on agriculture and use on
livestock and animals or are they primarily due to human ignorance and self-medication? My
analysis of scientific journals published on antibiotic resistance, and viewing the effects and
reasoning behind the usage of antibiotics in developed nations will reveal the leading cause for
antibiotic-resistance.
Antibiotics have been used since ancient times. It was seen in mold that developed on the
staple foods such as bread. The Greeks, Romans, and many other ancient civilizations noted the

beneficial properties that accompanied the use of mold on the sick. While mold has been noted to
have antibiotic properties and had been suggested to be used since the early 17th century, the term
antibiotic was not coined by Alexander Fleming until the mid-20th century. The rise of antibiotics
in the 20th century led to mass production of synthetic forms brought about by advancements in
chemistry and biology. The advancements in chemistry and biology allowed scientists to further
understand how to target specific bacteria or areas of the body. Bacteria is destroyed by
antibiotics through multiple methods. The initial approach is to interfere with prokaryotic cell
contents or the cells membrane. Another way that antibiotics interfere with bacteria is by
affecting its production of proteins and DNA replication. The most common antibiotics are
considered to be effective on a broad spectrum and can destroy or denature multiple types of
bacteria.
Therefore, the use of broad spectrum antibiotics on livestock or agriculture poses
significant risks to the spread of resistance towards common drugs that are vital to the
preservation of health in the world. The use of antibiotics on agriculture and livestock poses
many risks, brought out by the large quantities being supplied and the confinement of animals to
small rooms. The confinement of hundreds of creatures to a small room is a breeding ground for
disease. These factors along with the addition of common drugs used to combat bacteria such as
E. coli often result in the production of E. coli strands that can infect other species, and are
resistant to the standard drugs used to treat the bacteria. Due to bacteria being able to thrive in
the conditions of their livestock host and develop antibiotic resistance, the animals are then
consumed allowing the bacteria to be passed among species, increasing the chances of cross
species contamination. Not only is cross species contamination a possible result from the cycle
created from the handling of livestock, but further mutations of the prokaryotes may occur

resulting in an even stronger bacterial strands. The US Center for Disease Control estimated that
the effects from antibiotic resistance from livestock resulted in 1,518 deaths and 67,236 days in
a hospital, every year, due to the new strains of bacteria created from antibiotic overuse in
animals.
While the use of antibiotics has caused numerous amounts of problems stemming from
their overuse, there is no simple fix or solution to the problem created. The major suggestion is to
cut off all antibiotic use on livestock. While the idea may seem efficient, it is simply not
plausible to do. Industries have been built around their use and have fortified their defenses to all
that oppose it, the antibiotics have been mixed with the livestock feed to promote faster growth
along with allowing the use of CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Organizations) able to sustain
thousands of animals in one location. Therefore due to the complications associated with the
removal of antibiotic usage on livestock it would result in damaging the industry, and increasing
prices in the market. Frequent problems that have arisen due to agricultural overuse of antibiotics
are the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria entering human hosts from contaminated food. A
common question is If you get food poisoning, will the antibiotic prescribed by your doctor be
able to fight the infection? (UCS), the question further illustrates the past and ever growing
risks due to the misuse of antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance apart from being seen from overuse in livestock or agriculture, has
also become apparent due to overuse or misuse by humans. The appearance of drugs such as
penicillin and other very useful antibiotics resulted in the mindset that they were perceived as
wonder drugs because they worked quickly and with relatively few side effects. (Mayo clinic)
Due to this sudden change in ability to combat life threatening illnesses the technology was

abused without concern for the future. Antibiotic resistance occurs primarily due to mutations in
prokaryotic cells that allow them to resist, or eliminates the effects of the drugs used. A single
use of an antibiotic brings about resistance as it removes all the weak or unfit bacteria from the
host. While antibiotics remove the majority of bacteria, the prokaryotes that are resistant or have
a certain mutation which allows them withstand the drug would be left behind to resume growth.
The largest and most apparent issue is that people will self-diagnose themselves without
consulting with a trained practitioner. Due to the self-diagnosis they may retake old medications
that they had saved. Consumption of antibiotics, even without bacterial presence would result in
resistance. Resistance would come about even without harmful bacteria present, due to the
beneficial bacteria being affected by the antibiotics, resulting in a resistance being formed.
Bacteria is able to transfer DNA amongst one another therefore in the future if a harmful DNA
entered the host, then they would gain the resistance as well. Further spreading of antibiotic
resistance amongst prokaryotic cells may also lead to far more complex bacteria. All of this
information brings up the question, what causes the resistance in humans in the 21st century?
The largest culprits of antibiotic resistance in humans would be doctors misdiagnosing a patient
and prescribing the wrong medication as treatment. Another culprit of antibiotic resistance can be
patients who wish to get over a sickness quickly, thus taking any medication they find without a
proper diagnoses, or the consumption of foreign medications. These can be seen as the prime
causes of antibiotic resistance growth in humans, and contribute to 2 million people annually
acquiring serious infections with bacteria that are resistant to one or more of the antibiotics
designed to treat those infections." And at least 23,000 people die annually from antibioticresistant infections. (McKenna, Maryn)

All in all, when evaluating the data and reasons behind the actions being taken that promote
antibiotic-resistance, it is clear that human consumption of the antibiotics is the major cause.
This can be seen by the infection and casualty rate due to resistant bacteria when compared
between livestock and human misuse. Therefore to curb the ever growing measures to educate
the populace on the consequences and restriction of antibiotic use would be needed for both
agricultural use and human consumption.
Bibliography:
"The Results."Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 07 July 2015. Web.
McKenna, Maryn. "Antibiotic Use in Chickens: Responsible for Hundreds of Human
Deaths?" Www.wired.com. Outbrain, 08 Sept. 13. Web.
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Consumer Health." Antibiotics: Misuse Puts You and Others at Risk. Mayo
Foundation, 12 Dec. 14. Web.