Of the 133 million prescriptions for antibiotics given out each year, about one-half are unnecessary, according to the American College of Physicians. Using antibiotics inappropriately is linked to the rise in bacterial infections that are resistant to them. An additional threat is the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria through your diet, including several commonly eaten vegetables. Treatment for bacterial infections that resist antibiotics is limited, and many serious consequences are possible.
Transmission
That some types of vegetables contain bacteria that is resistant to treatment with antibiotics is largely due to the manure used during planting and growth. Cattle, pigs and chickens sold for meat are often treated with antibiotics to promote growth; these antibiotics are passed into their feces. Spreading manure on your garden allows the plants to absorb these antibiotics. Overexposure to antibiotics contributes to the growth of strains that don't respond to treatment. Eating meat and vegetables that potentially contain antibiotics, in combination with the increase in prescriptions for them, raises your risk of contracting a life-threatening infection.
Vegetables
You may think choosing organic vegetables offers more protection against contracting an antibiotic-resistant infection. This isn't always the case since many organic farms rely on animal manure as fertilizer, according to a 2009 article in "Scientific American." The risk increases for vegetables eaten right off the plant, regardless of whether you wash them. Some of the crops that have medical professionals worried include tomatoes, mushrooms, leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach, sprouts, potatoes, carrots, and radishes. Vegetables that grow underground are particularly worrisome since they absorb more bacteria from the soil.
Types of Infections
Some antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains are contracted during hospital stays or traumatic injury and include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and gram-negatives. Those that could infect you through vegetable consumption are typically in the coliform family and include E.coli and enterobacter, according to a 2004 article in the journal "Molecular Nutrition and Food Research." These infections cause food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, but they may not respond to traditional medications used to treat them. This can compromise your health and in some cases lead to death -- up to 5,000 cases in the United States per year, reports Helpguide in collaboration with Harvard Health Publications.
Protecting Yourself
Washing infected vegetables doesn't always rid them of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but you can take other measures to protect yourself. Don't take antibiotic medications if you have a viral infection, such as the common cold, because they don't work for this type of illness. If you have a bacterial illness, follow your doctor's directions for the antibiotic you are prescribed. This cuts the risk of leaving small amounts of bacteria in your body that grow resistant to medication and helps reduce your risk of contracting an illness from eating infected foods. If a vegetable is recalled, throw it out immediately and watch for news regarding safe alternatives from farmers and food manufacturers.
References
- Helpguide: Keeping Your Food Safe
- American College of Physicians: Antibiotic Resistance
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Antibiotic Resistance Questions & Answers
- Scientific American: Worried About Antibiotics in Your Beef? Vegetables May Be No Better
- Molecular Nutrition and Food Research: Occurrence of Antibiotic-Resistant Enterobacteria in Agricultural Foodstuffs
