University research on antibiotic-resistant bacteria funded

Researchers at the University of Minnesota are working on ways to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund a project which will monitor resistant bacteria in chicken and turkeys for the next three years. The bacteria that can affect human health often enters the environment through poultry.

Veterinary and biomedical sciences professor Randall Singer says researchers will monitor the bacteria carried by poultry and feed them antibiotics so they can test for resistance. The Minnesota Daily reports Singer hopes the research will help veterinarians better understand which antibiotics to give animals and how much, ultimately improving treatment methods in their clinics.