This report from the Canadian Press suggests that greenhouse gas emissions are, in the minds of some, becoming the common yardstick for all sorts of negative externalities. It argues that one mechanism for reducing the emergence of antibiotic resistance is to educate members of the public about how the misuse and overuse of the drugs helps the resistant genes to spread. It argues further that this idea can best be conveyed as an ‘antibiotic footprint’ – akin to one’s environmental or carbon footprint.
The suggestion is certainly indicative of the degree to which personal environmental indicators have gained prominence.