Antibiotic Resistance in Humans: An Analysis of Antibiotic Use in Factory Farming

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the most significant threats to public health worldwide. The long-term and massive antibiotic use in farmed animals, a consequence of the growing global demand for animal-based foods, can contribute to the prevalence of bacterial AMR in humans. The main objective of this study is to assess the effect of antibiotic use on factory farms (i.e., modern concentrated and specialized farms) on AMR in humans using a spatial regression model. Based on the results, the increase of antibiotic use in factory farming by 1000 tons globally can increase antibiotic resistance in humans by 21%. Therefore, to prevent AMR infections in humans, it is necessary to optimize antibiotic use in factory farming, by reducing or switching to bio-alternatives. Although in some countries the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics (e.g., as growth promoters) in factory farming is forbidden now, many countries do not enforce legislation in this field yet allowing for cross-borders effects at continental and global levels.