By Lin Hill

So antibiotic resistance hits pretty close to home in our household. I have a big, healthy 14-year-old son. He's pushing 6 feet and 140 pounds of muscle. Athletic too, really he's the picture of health. On the surface that is. However, because of antibiotic resistance, that could all come crashing down in a heartbeat. 

When Alex was in 5th or 6th grade, strep throat kept making the rounds at his school. Every few weeks, the school nurse would send a note home letting parents know that yet again strep was in the classrooms. Alex’s system resisted for a while but eventually he got sick and sure enough tested positive for strep. After the doctors treated him with penicillin, however, he broke out in a spotty red rash all over his arms and stomach. The doctors thought he might be allergic to penicillin. 

Alex recovered from the strep and the rash and was tested for penicillin resistance. The tests were inconclusive, but the doctors advised against giving him any penicillin derived medicines unless he became gravely ill.

What this means for us is that when Alex does get sick, it greatly reduces his ability to take antibiotics. His choices are way more limited than most people. And with the added problem of antibiotic resistant superbugs, his choices are even slimmer. Because he is so lean, it wouldn't take much to turn him from strapping young lad to very sick young man.

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Also hitting close to home, I experienced an eye infection last year that was very hard to treat with antibiotics, the infection did not seem to respond well to a number of them. My eye was swollen half way down my face in a very short time. I had to go to the E.R. to get intravenous antibiotics. 

This happened twice and my eye doctor recommended surgery to prevent the accumulation of the fluid where the bacteria grew, since it appeared the bacteria were quickly becoming resistant to antibiotics. The doctor was afraid that the infection could actually cause me to lose sight in the eye, or spread, or worse, and I elected to have the surgery. The procedure required general anesthesia (always a risk) and was not without the additional risk of hospital-acquired infections like MRSA. Luckily the surgery was completely successful, and I was lucky.

I think it is ridiculous that we use our best antibiotics for non-therapeutic purposes on animals that are crammed into unhealthy living conditions. The drugs are used prophylactically to try to keep the animals healthy and to fatten them up more quickly. We risk the health of every American for the gross financial profit of a very few and extremely cheap meat for all. Some say that we can’t stand a rise in the price of meat, but I beg to differ, as Americans would be healthier if they ate less meat, not more. 

In addition, meat raised without these unnecessary antibiotics actually cooks better. It is more tender and more moist. And since it is more expensive, we eat a bit less – for the benefit of my whole family. I would encourage every family to try and purchase a small percentage of their meat raised without routine antibiotics. Local is even better if you have the opportunity. Many families can’t afford to switch to consuming only meat raised without antibiotics, but every purchase helps. 

I certainly feel good about buying meat that is raised without practices that easily could threaten my son’s health, my health, or your health. Entire health care systems have pledged to purchase only meat raised without antibiotics – these supporters are on the front lines and have seen the tragedy of antibiotic resistance. Please join the fight.

Lin Hill is the Director of Awards Program for Practice Greenhealth.