How antibiotic resistance spreads from animals to humans ?

How antibiotic resistance spreads from animals to humans?

Click on the red icons to see details.

Livestock get antibiotics

Manure with drug-resistant bacteria used as fertilizer.

Drug-resistant bacteria remain in meat.

Meat with drug-resistant bacteria consumed by human.

Crops contaminated by drug-resitant bacteria and consumed by human.

Source: World Health Organisation (WHO) & Department of Veterinary Services, Malaysia (DVS)

Farmers sometimes use antibiotics to treat sick animals, but when these drugs are given improperly or too often, bacteria in the animals’ guts can become resistant.

Livestock that carry drug-resistant bacteria can shed them through their faeces. When this manure is used as fertiliser or contaminates water sources, the bacteria can spread to food crops.

Livestock that carry drug-resistant bacteria may pass them on during slaughter and processing, allowing the bacteria to remain in the meat.

When the feces with drug-resistant bacteria is used as fertilizer for food crops, the bacteria may remain on the plants. If these crops are later consumed without proper washing or cooking, the bacteria can enter and persist in the human gut.

When contaminated meat is mishandled or undercooked, drug-resistant bacteria can survive and transfer to humans.