How Factory Farms Supercharge Harmful Bacteria
A new study suggests that intensive factory farming practices are accelerating the evolution of harmful bacteria like Campylobacter jejuni. The high density of chickens and the overuse of antimicrobials are creating environments that foster antibiotic resistance and increase the risk of human infection.
Why it matters
This research highlights a significant public health concern regarding how industrial agricultural practices contribute to the global crisis of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
The rapid growth of chickens — now, 31 billion globally — has sped up pathogen evolution, boosting persistence, antibiotic resistance and spillover to humans.
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