He is 100% correct. The problem is the “spores”. The bacteria which cause tetanus and botulism do the same thing as the AFB bacteria. They make highly resilient spores which can last for many decades (maybe longer) in harsh (cold and dry) conditions. Once conditions are right, the spores “germinate” and produce a new generation of bacteria. While they are in the spore state, they are in “suspended animation”. Antibiotics all rely on bacteria being metabolically active, which spores are not. So antibiotics will not kill spores. The only things which can kill them are bleach, extreme heat (well above boiling water temperature) and radiation.
I have been involved in the care of a child who developed botulism as a result of a new construction site here in California. There was no history of honey ingestion, but when the excavation site was tested, botulism spores were found. The child was successfully treated with an extremely expensive antibody (over $100,000 for a single dose), but the point is, these bacteria which make spores are extremely resilient. Please be vigilant for our bees. Botulism is the human equivalent of AFB.