Effect of Drug-Resistant Bacteria on Agriculture, Livestock, and Environment

Abstract

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are the most severe cause of concern for the public health globally. Misuse and intermittent use of antibiotic are mainly responsible for the emergence of drug resistance in bacteria in developing countries. Further, the poor agricultural practices, consistent feed of antibiotics to livestock without prescription of medical practitioners, and environmental factors are also responsible for the emergence and dissemination of drug-resistant bacteria around the world. A big portion of commercially available antibiotics has been consumed by livestock every year, and the waste product of such antibiotics consumed by animals is responsible for contamination of agricultural and nonagricultural land. In the current chapter, we have tried to figure out these three major factors which are also responsible for the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.