PITTSBURGH -- A Team 4 investigation finds the growth of dangerous, deadly bacteria may be linked to high levels of antibiotics in the food we eat.

Local hospitals may already be seeing the effects, but critics say the government is not doing enough to cut back on antibiotic use in farm animals.

The following report by Team 4 investigator Paul Van Osdol first aired April 27, 2009, on WTAE Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m.

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Pennsylvania leads the nation in farms that have been repeatedly cited by the United States Department of Agriculture for pumping too many antibiotics into livestock.

Experts say heavy drug use on the farm has led to more drug-resistant bacteria in humans. These are deadly bugs, which is why many experts are calling this a public health crisis.

Just like babies, calves love their bottles. But this formula often contains antibiotics -- a cause for major concern among scientists.

Twice last year, the Smith farm in New Alexandria sold veal calves that tested with high levels of the antibiotic neomycin -- in one case, more than twice the maximum allowed by the USDA.

But farmer Billy Smith says the USDA did not fine him and he was even allowed to sell the tainted meat.

Smith: "No meat discarded at all."

Van Osdol: "Even after finding this high antibiotic level?"

Smith: "After finding an antibiotic that was supposedly higher than what they expect, yes."

Van Osdol: "What do you make of that?"

Smith: "Well, it concerns me. I wonder why they're doing the screening if, on the other end, the calf's not being discarded."

The only penalty was posting Smith's farm on this USDA Web site that lists multiple violators of the government's chemical testing program.

Four of the 13 farms on the April list are in Pennsylvania -- more than any other state. The USDA publishes the list to shame farmers into improving their practices.

Smith says he did make changes -- cutting out antibiotics for only those calves that are used for veal -- but the list has had no adverse effect.

Van Osdol: "Hasn't hurt your business at all?"

Smith: "No."

Van Osdol: "So, again, what's the point of having this list?"

Smith: "I'm not sure."

The USDA declined Team 4's request for an interview.

Like most farmers, Smith believes in antibiotics and still uses them on dairy calves.

Smith: "We're trying to keep our calves healthy, grow them faster and produce healthy milk."

But scientists say too many farmers are giving antibiotics to healthy animals, and that causes the animals -- and the humans who eat them -- to develop dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria. In fact, healthy animals use an estimated 70 percent of all antibiotics given to people and animals in the U.S.

Here at this feed store in Washington, Pa., they have feed with antibiotics not just for calves but for cows, goats, pigs, poultry, sheep -- pretty much any farm animal you might have. And farmers can buy their own drugs to add to the feed.

Joe Kanzius: "I sell a lot of medicated feeds here."

Scientists say all that medicated feed helps create super bugs -- some even worse than MRSA. That's what they're seeing here at Allegheny General Hospital.

Dr. Andrew Sahud, AGH: "At any given time, about 25 percent of our patients in the hospital are in isolation because of some drug-resistant something."

Van Osdol: "A quarter of all the patients?"

Sahud: "Yeah."

In isolation, because doctors can find no medicine to treat them.

Van Osdol: "How dangerous are some of these strains of bacteria not responding to antibiotics?"

Sahud: "They can be deadly in instances."

Genetics researcher Garth Ehrlich at AGH says the problem will only get worse if nothing is done to curb antibiotic use in animals.

Ehrlich: "We worry about it all the time."

Legislation has been proposed in Harrisburg and Washington that would prevent healthy livestock from getting dosed with antibiotics. Farmer Billy Smith worries that could make him end up with more sick cows.

Smith: "Antibiotics are a necessity, whether it be humans or animals."

But scientists and activists say so many healthy animals are getting the antibiotics that they're not as effective on people.

Heather Sage, Citizens For Pennsylvania's Future: "Our medicines really aren't working for us as they should any more, and we absolutely need government to step in and do a better job. This is a public health crisis. We absolutely need to take action immediately."

Immediate action is by no means a sure thing, because of opposition from big agriculture and big drug companies.

So, what can consumers do in the meantime if they want to avoid antibiotics in their food? Experts say try to buy organic or locally grown foods.

• Web Site: Buy Fresh Buy Local

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