Pig farming is big business in eastern North Carolina. Industrial-scale hog operations have become breeding grounds for drug-resistant germs of the type called Staphylococcus aureus.
Where Do Drug-Resistant Germs Come From?
A study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases reports that Staph aureus is spreading from pigs to people (March 2021). DNA sequencing has identified similar strains of the bacteria that have moved from the animals to farmers. From there, the bacteria traveled from farmers’ families to residents in the communities. Moreover, most of the identified isolates were resistant to several different antibiotics.
The researchers did not collect information on whether they were responsible for infections in these neighboring communities. They suggest, however, that we need these data urgently. After all, S. aureus can cause serious infections on the skin as well as in the lungs, bone, heart and other tissues.
When S. aureus infections are not susceptible to methicillin, they are termed MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus). Several different types of antibiotics were ineffective against the drug-resistant germs identified in this study. Pig producers in the US use tetracyclines, macrolides, lincosamides, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones to treat sick animals.
Drug-Resistant Germs in Other Regions:
The US is not the only place in the world with antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Chinese and Danish researchers identified several in pork being sold in Beijing, China, as well as in sushi (Food Microbiology, Feb. 2021). In this instance, the levels were not high enough to sicken a person. However, scientists worry about antimicrobial-resistant organisms. When someone does develop an infection with one of these extra-tough germs, doctors may not be able to find any antibiotics that work.
Learn More:
For a fuller perspective on the scope of this problem, you’ll want to listen to our interview with Dr. Marty Makary in Show 1250: Antimicrobial Resistant Infections Could Be the Next Pandemic.
