Hospital germs bet on antibiotic use in agriculture

Dangerous germs due to antibiotics in agriculture? Bet is running
In hospitals, infections with dangerous multidrug-resistant germs are becoming more common. These pathogens called MRSA are responsible for the deaths of up to 15,000 people each year. The increase in drug resistance is partly attributed to the massive use of antibiotics in agriculture. In this context, a bet is now running in northern Germany.

The bet is on: Farmers claim that they are not more burdened with multidrug-resistant bacteria than the average of the population. (Image: puhhha / fotolia.com)

Hospital germs are widespread
Particularly in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes, MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are relatively widespread and at the same time a significant problem. The pathogens, also called hospital germs, are resistant to several or all antibiotics. An infection can trigger various symptoms in patients, including inflammation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting or blood poisoning. Especially for people with weakened immune systems and for older people MRSA represent an increased risk. In Germany alone, the dangerous germs for the death of up to 15,000 people are blamed. The increase in drug resistance is partly attributed to the massive use of antibiotics in agriculture. On this topic now runs a bet in northern Germany.

Are farmers more often carriers of dangerous germs??
According to a news agency dpa news agency, farmers in a farming community in Emsland are betting that they are not carriers of the MRSA hospital germ more often than other people. The bet is aimed at a residents' initiative against new animal stables. According to the information, 355 members of the cooperative have had samples of their nasal mucosa examined by a laboratory more than two weeks ago. This Wednesday, the results of the investigation should be available. Although this study does not meet scientific criteria, the managing director of the producer cooperative Hümmling, Bernd Terhalle, wants to publicize the difference between hospital germs (HA-MRSA) and an MRSA type found in livestock (LA-MRSA) do. However, according to the agency message, scientists say that farmers and other professionals who work a lot with animals are also settled by LA-MRSA. (Ad)