How did the resistant E. coli get on the food in the first place?
We re not sure. But many of our antibiotics, including Bactrim-like drugs, are used to treat or prevent disease in cattle, chickens, and other farm animals or to make them grow faster. That practice increases the odds that the animals will harbor bacteria that are resistant to Bactrim. And that means that these drugs may not be effective for us when we need them. Q: The same antibiotics used for people are also used to treat livestock? A: Yes. They re often given to healthy animals. As farms have gotten bigger, the animals are more crowded, and that raises their risk of disease. By giving them antibiotics before they get sick, farmers can push them through the livestock system more efficiently and more profitably. But that also promotes the growth of resistant bacteria that can end up in humans. Q: Could farmers raise the animals without antibiotics? A: Yes, but they would have to keep the farms cleaner and decrease crowding. The dirtier the farm, the more likely farmers are to benefit
