The Herald
by JAMES MORGAN
The use of antibiotics on farms should be reduced because of suspected links with a superbug in humans, an organic food group claimed yesterday.
A virulent strain of E-coli which has killed at least 57 people in the UK has been found on 10 cattle farms in the UK since 2004.
Meanwhile, human cases of the superbug are rising fast, according to Health Protection Scotland. In 1998, there were 28 cases of this type of E-coli in Scotland, but in 2005 the number rose to 1067.
The bacterium causes blood poisoning and urinary tract infections, and is potentially fatal to the elderly and hospital patients.
The strain produces enzymes called extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) which stop many drugs working, including penicillin.
Most people contract ESBL in hospital, but concerns have been raised that the infection may spread through meat and milk products.
Now the Soil Association says it believes the use of certain antibiotics in farm animals is one factor in creating the drug-resistant strain of E-coli. It is calling on the government to reduce the use of the relevant antibiotics on farms.
In a letter to Ben Bradshaw, Animal Welfare Minister, the pro-organic group calls for the advertising of certain farm drugs to be banned and for vets to advise farmers how to reduce their use of the antibiotics.
Richard Young, Soil Association policy adviser, said: “There is growing evidence that the excessive use of antibiotics on intensive livestock farms is a central factor in the spread of this new type of E-coli.”
Last year, for the first time in Britain, scientists found strains of the ESBL E-coli among sick and dying calves on a dairy farm in Wales. Some 56% of calves examined had the bug.
Since then, government vets have found similar strains of the bug on nine farms across the UK, including Wiltshire, Somerset and Cheshire.
Defra has refused to confirm whether any of the 10 outbreaks occurred in Scotland, but yesterday, Richard Young said the risk was as high in Scotland as in any other part of the UK.
The warning that ESBL E-coli could be passed through the food chain was first made last year, in a report by the Health Protection Agency.
An outbreak of ESBL E-coli killed 29 people in Southampton last year. In 2002, it was detected at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, and was blamed for the death of one patient.
There were also reported cases at two other Lanarkshire hospitals — Wishaw General and Monklands General in Airdrie.
The chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, has raised concerns, amid fears it could become as serious as MRSA.
Professor Hugh Pennington, a leading microbiologist at Aberdeen University, said: “ESBL is spreading through the human population as well as the animal population.
“One of the keys to solving this problem is to use antibiotics as little as possible.”
In response to the Soil Association’s concerns, a spokeswoman for Defra said: “Defra is aware of the issue and of the Soil Association’s concerns and will respond to any representations we receive from them as soon as possible.”
