Antibiotic residues in milk and milk products: A momentous challenge for the pharmaceutical industry and medicine

Abstract

Dairy products are nutritious food items that contain various essential nutrients, however, it has been proven that residual antibiotics have contaminated such products. These residues can cause several side effects on human health. They increase antimicrobial resistance against several threatening microorganisms, as well as significant growth in allergenic reactions. Various methods, including heat treatments, have been applied to alleviate and reduce the effect of antibiotic residue level in milk and milk products. Changes in drug levels were not significantly remarkable, obliging researchers to find new approaches to prevent or reduce their risk and limit their complications on human health.

Keywords: Antibiotics residues; Milk products; Bacterial resistance; Antimicrobial drugs; Microorganisms; Health effects

Core Tip: Little information is available regarding the use of antibiotics and their availability in dairy products as residues in Lebanon. Not a lot of care or caution is given to this sector, even though Lebanon’s main income, especially in villages, is from cultivated mammals. This article mentions the availability of residual drugs in milk. It includes the different pathways of drugs upon consumption by the mammals, until excretion. As well as its side effect on human health, especially the cause of flora bacteria to become resistant to drugs.