Avian Antibodies (IgY) to Fight Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics are today found ubiquitous in our environment in constantly growing amounts. Antibiotics are given to animals as “growth factors”-especially to piglets, calves and chickens-to avoid weaning diarrhoea and to promote growth [1]. It is forbidden in Europe since 2006 and also in some states in USA. But they are still used widely in other countries. Antibiotics are distributed everywhere in animals and humans-blood, flesh, urine, faeces. Antibiotic contaminated flesh is eaten both by humans and animals. Antibiotics from animals and humans are excreted to the environment by urine and faeces. Antibiotic factories spread out tons of antibiotics from their plants. Unused antibiotics are thrown away. Soil and water are enormous reservoirs for antibiotics. Soil-dwelling microbes encounter a myriad of antibiotics mostly in low concentrations. Low concentrations do not kill bacteria, but they will evolve strategies to resistance. Multi resistant bacteria are found in excrements of birds far out in the wilderness of Greenland. Genetic spread of multidrug resistant bacteria is the biggest problem for propagation of antibiotic resistance. The gastrointestinal canal of humans and animals are “mating” places for bacteria to exchange their genetic material. Hospitals-especially intensive care unit (ICU) and new-born wards-are important domains for spread of genetic resistance. Cross-infections are the major impediment for the control of resistance.