Human Antibiotics’ Use on Crops Poses a Threat

An established Southern California emergency physician, Zachary Lutsky, MD, handled acute medical traumas for more than a decade at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. With a focus on preventive care, Dr. Zachary Lutsky has a particular concern about overprescription of drugs and increased antibiotic resistance.

One emerging issue centers on the spraying of human antibiotics on rice cropland in countries such as Vietnam, China, and Cambodia. As reported in the journal CABI Agriculture and Bioscience, tetracycline and streptomycin are being applied as a safeguard against fungal diseases and insect infestations. In certain years, up to approximately 10 percent of rice within some regions were found to contain human antibiotics.

The risk posed by this is that resistant bacteria and the antibiotics can remain present within the harvested crop. In cases where the food is not properly cooked, they can become part of the human food chain. In addition, a large portion of the sprayed antibiotic remains in the soil, which may create “reservoirs of resistance.” Recommendations for addressing such issues center on enhancing food safety regulations at national and international levels.