Scare-mongering not productive approach to antibiotic discussion

Antibiotic resistance represents a serious, complex public health consideration and there is work to be done, but over-simplified storylines and scare-mongering is not a productive path toward a science-based solution.Avoparsin (chemically similar to vancomycin) was banned in 1997 in the EU – largely the result of a rise in VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci) incidence in food animals. Following the ban, there have been NO consistent trends in VRE isolates from hospitalized humans following.    Based on the most recent research, hospital-associated VRE appears to be genetically distinct from VRE in livestock. Establishment of risk mandates identification of the causal pathway where resistant pathogens cause lack of therapeutic responsiveness.  In other words, concern is a relatively general, vague and non-quantifiable concept -- risk is a specific, measurable and verifiable concept. It goes without saying, antibiotic resistance represents a very serious, complex public health consideration. There’s work to be done.  Long-term solutions will require ongoing research, surveillance, and comprehensive collaboration.Unfortunately, over-simplified storylines and scare-mongering are easy to exploit. Sure, it gets attention and sells books. However, it misses the mark for what’s really going on –- and in the end proves to be a public disservice. So while the cows are getting out, that approach wants only to shut the gate because it’s easy and avoids what’s really needed –- the hard work of fixing fence.