Unhygienic farms

When I became a student nurse 20 years ago, standards of cleanliness were immeasurably higher than today. The army of cleaners we used to employ has thinned to a skeleton crew, while extra duties have decimated the time available to us to attend to basics such as cleanliness.

The problem of antibiotic resistant superbugs is, however, about far more than hospitals. In 1997, the World Health Organisation warned that "excessive use" of antibiotics in farmed animals "presents a growing risk to human health". The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products has confirmed that "animals undoubtedly represent a source of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms for humans".

Overcrowded and unhygienic factory farms have led to this unsustainable situation. We can all play a part by changing our diets. Superbugs are too high a price to pay for cheap meat.

ALISTAIR CURRIE

Campaigns Office, Viva!

Wilder Street

Bristol