These residues can lead to allergic reactions in a small percentage of the population. Bacteria resistant to one or more antimicrobials pose a threat to both human medicine and animal health management. The other area of concern is in the transferring of resistance developed in bacteria of agricultural origin to disease causing organisms of humans. Antimicrobial resistance refers to the acquired ability of bacteria to survive exposure to one or more antimicrobials to which they normally are susceptible. In other words, the bacteria display resistance to the inhibitory or killing actions of the antimicrobial.
Many bacteria are naturally insensitive to one or more antimicrobials.
This is why doctors and veterinarians prescribe different antimicrobial drugs based on which bacterial disease is diagnosed. Antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial residues are separate issues. The occurrence of residues above acceptable safety limits is very rare but can be a strong indicator of irresponsible use of antimicrobials. Bacterial strains can be resistant in their normal state to one or more specific antimicrobials. Resistance can be acquired.