Antibiotics are medications that are used to kill or slow the growth of bacteria. They work by interfering with specific bacterial processes such as cell wall synthesis or protein biosynthesis. While antibiotics can be beneficial in treating bacterial infections, their abuse or misuse can have negative repercussions. One of the most serious issues is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can arise when germs evolve resistance to the antibiotics widely used to treat them. This can make infections considerably more difficult to cure, and in rare cases, even deadly. Furthermore, antibiotics can disturb the natural balance of bacteria in the gut, resulting in a variety of digestive issues. As a result, it is critical to use antibiotics only when absolutely required and to always follow the recommendations supplied by a healthcare expert when taking these medications.

Profit incentives often promote the use of antibiotics in the fishing, poultry, and other animal husbandry industries. Antibiotics can be used to prevent illness outbreaks, accelerate growth and weight gain, and minimise animal mortality rates. Farmers and producers may benefit from increased profits as a result of this.

Negative effects have been associated with the use of antibiotics in fisheries, poultry, and other animal husbandry practises. The spread of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, which can result in life-threatening infections, is one of the biggest worries. This occurs because healthy animals are frequently given antibiotics as a prophylactic precaution or to promote growth. This encourages the development of germs that are resistant to antibiotics, which can subsequently be spread to people through contact with tainted food and water.

In addition to fostering the emergence of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture can harm the environment. Antibiotic-resistant microbes can grow in the environment as a result of animal excretion of antibiotics contaminating streams and soil. Concern over the effects of antibiotic usage in animal agriculture on human health has grown. According to several studies, human antibiotic resistance as well as other health problems like allergies and autoimmune diseases may be caused by antibiotic exposure in the food chain. Regulation of the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture is necessary, and alternative approaches to enhancing animal development and health should be looked into. To promote the health of animals, this calls for improved hygiene and sanitation practises, as well as the use of probiotics and other herbal remedies.

According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in India, antibiotics are irresponsibly used in the country’s chicken industry. The study found that many of the antibiotics used were essential for preserving human health and that chicken sold in retail stores contained considerably more antibiotic residue than was permitted. The overuse of antibiotics in the poultry industry may lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, making it more challenging to treat diseases in people.

Another case in point is the abuse of antibiotics in aquaculture in India. On report to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) assessment, antibiotic usage in Indian aquaculture is unregulated, and the high density of fish farms in some locations might lead to disease spread. As stated in research, some farmers were using antibiotics prophylactically, which means they were giving the drugs to healthy fish as a preventive precaution rather than treating an existing infection. Antibiotic misuse can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms as well as harm the environment.

Overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture, on the other hand, can result in the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can be passed to people via the food chain. This can result in severe infections that are difficult or impossible to cure with medications, increasing the likelihood of illness, hospitalisation, and death. Antibiotics used in animal husbandry raise the possibility of antibiotic resistance by contaminating soil and water with antibiotic residues.

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Article last updated on 5th June, 2023

By Rajdeep Dam