Bacteria near salmon pens becoming resistant to antibiotics, study finds
Judith Lavoie
October 2, 2010
Vancouver Sun
Bacteria around open net pen salmon farms are developing a resistance to antibiotics, a two-year study in B.C.’s Broughton Archipelago has found.
“They are not actually resistant, but, if we do these special tests, we can see the (tolerance for antibiotics) is higher than you would expect it to be,” said Dr. Michael Kelly, who headed the research.
Kelly conducted the research with biologist Alexandra Morton and Martin Krkosek from the University of Washington. Although Morton is an outspoken opponent of open net pen salmon farms, that did not affect the findings of the study, he said.
Kelly, of Washington-based Kelly Medical Services Inc., is also medical director and head of microbiology and molecular diagnostics at LifeLabs B.C. and clinical professor at the University of B.C. He presented the findings Friday at the B.C. Society of Laboratory Science Congress.
Higher than average concentrations of antibiotics were needed to stop the growth of bacteria in samples taken from around salmon farms, compared to bacteria at control sites in areas up to 130 kilometres away, he said.
The findings are a concern because antibiotic resistance is developing into a major medical crisis, Kelly said.
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Posted October 2nd, 2010
