Antibiotic last line of defence" antibiotic. Per "The ICU Book" "The first rule of antibiotics is try not to use them, and the second rule is try not to use too many of them." Inappropriate antibiotic treatment and overuse of antibiotics have contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Self-prescribing of antibiotics is an example of misuse. Many antibiotics are frequently prescribed to treat symptoms or diseases that do not respond to antibiotics or that are likely to resolve without treatment. Also, incorrect or suboptimal antibiotics are prescribed for certain bacterial infections. The overuse of antibiotics, like penicillin and erythromycin, has
Antibiotic use in livestock common foods harboring these pathogens. There is evidence that a large proportion of resistant "E. coli" isolates causing blood stream infections in people are from livestock produced as food. When manure from antibiotic-fed swine is used as fertilizer elsewhere, the manure may be contaminated with bacteria which can infect humans. Studies have also shown that direct contact with livestock can lead to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from animals to humans. Sampling of retail meats such as turkey, chicken, pork and beef consistently show high levels of Enterobacteriaceae. Rates of resistant bacteria in these meats are high as well. Sources