The contribution of antibiotics in enhancing the quality of human life is well known. However, there is now growing evidence that these drugs cause substantial harm. Researchers in many parts of the world have found that a large amount of antibiotics, used by humans and administered to animals, is excreted out. They then get mixed with soil and create conditions that favour emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

How does it happen? Many of us have a propensity to pop antibiotics for trifle infections. These drugs are also administered to animals, sometimes even to promote their growth. Such indiscriminate use leads to the annihilation of numerous harmless bacteria, present in our bodies. These bacteria, in fact, protect us from invasion by numerous pathogens. They also suppress antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are present in small numbers in our bodies. But antibiotics kill or suppress the growth of such useful microorganisms. Consequently, antibiotic-resistant bacteria get all opportunities to thrive. These pathogens can actually play havoc with people with low immunity. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can also transfer copies of resistance-conferring genes to antibiotic-sensitive bacteria and make these microorganisms antibiotic-resistant.

Much the same happens in nature. Soils comprise a mixed bacterial population. Most of these microorganisms are actually quite beneficial for life. But antibiotics, dumped by humans and excreted by animals play havoc with the soil's bacterial population. They kill