Is all antimicrobial resistance a threat to public health?
Antimicrobial resistance is only a threat to public health when humans are infected with a resistant organism that is difficult or impossible to treat. This is an issue seen more frequently with human pathogens transmitted between humans (such as extremely drug resistant tuberculosis, also called XDRTB, and MRSA). However, there has yet to be a single case where a resistant human infection has been proven to be caused by use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals.
Antimicrobial resistance is only a threat to public health when humans are infected with a resistant organism that is difficult or impossible to treat. This is an issue seen more frequently with human pathogens transmitted between humans (such as extremely drug resistant tuberculosis, also called XDRTB, and MRSA). While outbreaks of resistant foodborne pathogens have been reported, very few have been epidemiologically traced back to the farm. Even fewer have been specifically associated with a specific indication such as increased rate of gain or prevention of a particular disease.
