#antibiotic resistance

#antibiotic resistance

There are a lot of ethics tied up with the food we eat. For some, that's why they choose a vegan diet. Others seek out things like fair trade-certified coffee or chocolate. Whether it's cage-free eggs or wild-caught salmon, there are many ways consumers can follow their conscience regarding the food they eat. In the world of fast food restaurants, some diners avoid Arby's since the chain has no policy on record about using beef raised without antibiotics.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned in a report this week that between 2019 and 2023, bacterial infections caused by a "super bug" bacteria dubbed NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) surged by more than 460% in the U.S. The NDM-CRE is a type of bacteria with a special gene that can break down powerful antibiotics rendering most drug treatments ineffective, said Shruti Gohil, associate professor of infectious diseases at UC Irvine School of Medicine.

A new study from researchers in Germany found that caffeine from coffee and other sources can reduce the effectiveness of certain antibiotics against harmful bacteria. Scientists at the Universities of Tübingen and Würzburg discovered that caffeine triggers a complex chain reaction in E. coli bacteria that makes them less susceptible to antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, a commonly prescribed fluoroquinolone used to treat urinary tract infections, pneumonia and many other bacterial infections.

This trend may continue unless there is a reduction in the underlying factors that increase risk for invasive [group A strep] or there is an effective preventive measure such as a vaccine.