Why farm workers need protection from antimicrobial resistance

People who live in close proximity to pig farms are more likely to pick up antibiotic-resistant infections than are those who live farther away. Credit: Thomas Dodge/AgStock/Image Source Limited/Alamy Livestock farms are producing more than they intend to. As well as raising chickens, cows and pigs, these farms are also unwittingly rearing dangerous microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics. These microbes pose a threat not just to farmers’ livelihoods, but also to the health of farm workers and people in their wider community. Public reaction to the use of antibiotics in agriculture has often focused on the welfare of animals and the people who consume their meat. Many health-conscious shoppers now try to avoid meat from animals that have been given antibiotics, even though there is conflicting data about whether this consumption presents a risk to humans. What is becoming clear, however, is that antibiotics endanger the health of people who work on farms. Nature Outlook: Antimicrobial resistance Liberal use of antimicrobial drugs on farms — including those that produce fruit rather than meat — can result in pathogens becoming impervious to these essential medications. These drug-resistant organisms can cause infections in farm workers that are difficult to treat and can spread to other people. This situation has raised concerns among workers’ rights groups and scientists studying the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). …