Superbug Stories

Abstract

Antimicrobial Resistance is one of the biggest global public health threats today. Although misuse of antibiotics is an important driver, it is a complex problem that is interlinked with the wider environment, especially with agriculture. In this paper I show, within the context of England, that intensive livestock farming plays a significant role in driving antimicrobial resistance in humans. I then show that poverty is a crucial factor influencing this relation, with higher poverty magnifying the effect intensive farming has on resistance. Finally I document agricultural pollution and contamination via ready to eat meals, as potential mechanisms underlying the transmission from intensive farms to humans.

Neha Deopa

PhD Student

My research interests include studying decision making under uncertainty, modeled using stochastic processes, with a focus on firm dynamics and environmental economics.