Evaluating the Relationship of Appalachian Livestock Density and Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans
Abstract
Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging public health crisis that currently causes 2.8 million resistant infections and 46,700 deaths per year in the United States. Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone are commonly used in livestock and humans for infections Consequently, AMR is present for humans and animals with these medications. However, livestock density and the presence of antibiotic-resistant strains remain understudied. This cross-sectional study evaluates the relationship between livestock density and AMR rates in humans within Appalachian states. Methods: This study utilized data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), FDA Veterinarian Antibiotic Drug Purchase Reports, and USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). Dependent variables included thirteen state-level AMR rates for E.coli and Salmonella, and state-level percentage of resistant isolates of each infection present for ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone were also obtained through NARMS. The predictor variable, livestock density, was defined as the number of cattle, poultry, swine, and goats per state divided by land area of each state, which was collected through NASS. Spearman correlations were utilized to examine the relationships between AMR resistance rates in humans and livestock population densities of the selected states. Conclusion: States with a higher swine density showed a moderate to strong correlation (0.7) to E. coli resistant to ceftriaxone and a moderate correlation to Salmonella resistant to ciprofloxacin (0.53). Cattle dense states had a moderate correlation to Salmonella resistant to ceftriaxone (0.41). Poultry-dense states showed a weak correlation (0.25) to ceftriaxone resistant to E. coli, which may indicate a positive impact from ceftriaxone being recommended for limited use. States with high goat-densities showed negative correlations to all resistant strains. This study highlights the importance of additional research specifically analyzing antibiotic use in livestock after implemented regulations within human and veterinary medicine would add further clarification.
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 11:30 AM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate Student - Masters
Faculty Mentor
Amy Wahlquist
Faculty Department
Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Evaluating the Relationship of Appalachian Livestock Density and Antimicrobial Resistance in Humans
Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an emerging public health crisis that currently causes 2.8 million resistant infections and 46,700 deaths per year in the United States. Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone are commonly used in livestock and humans for infections Consequently, AMR is present for humans and animals with these medications. However, livestock density and the presence of antibiotic-resistant strains remain understudied. This cross-sectional study evaluates the relationship between livestock density and AMR rates in humans within Appalachian states. Methods: This study utilized data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), FDA Veterinarian Antibiotic Drug Purchase Reports, and USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS). Dependent variables included thirteen state-level AMR rates for E.coli and Salmonella, and state-level percentage of resistant isolates of each infection present for ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and ceftriaxone were also obtained through NARMS. The predictor variable, livestock density, was defined as the number of cattle, poultry, swine, and goats per state divided by land area of each state, which was collected through NASS. Spearman correlations were utilized to examine the relationships between AMR resistance rates in humans and livestock population densities of the selected states. Conclusion: States with a higher swine density showed a moderate to strong correlation (0.7) to E. coli resistant to ceftriaxone and a moderate correlation to Salmonella resistant to ciprofloxacin (0.53). Cattle dense states had a moderate correlation to Salmonella resistant to ceftriaxone (0.41). Poultry-dense states showed a weak correlation (0.25) to ceftriaxone resistant to E. coli, which may indicate a positive impact from ceftriaxone being recommended for limited use. States with high goat-densities showed negative correlations to all resistant strains. This study highlights the importance of additional research specifically analyzing antibiotic use in livestock after implemented regulations within human and veterinary medicine would add further clarification.