Bladder Infections Tied to Chicken Consumption

A new report by Maryn McKenna of the Food and Environment Reporting Network has identified a link between food-transmitted E. coli and recurring bladder infections in human patients. McKenna, who is working on the investigation in conjunction with ABC News, has found evidence that the pervasive and routine use of non-therapeutic antibiotics in the chicken industry has led to the increased prevalence of drug-resistant strains, or superbugs, of the dangerous bacteria, which then make their way into human populations. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 80 percent of antibiotics sold in the US are used in livestock feed, often to protect otherwise healthy animals from disease in crowded facilities. ABC News reports that more than 8 million women may be afflicted by superbug bladder infections as a result of the practice.