Antibiotic resistance in the environment is a growing, often overlooked, threat to human health. A comprehensive study led by the University of Surrey, published in Environment International, analysed 13,000 studies from 1990 to 2021 and identified 738 investigations focusing on unbuilt, non-industrial environments such as rivers, soil and air. The results show that resistant bacteria, in particular Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas, as well as resistance genes to sulfonamides, tetracyclines and beta-lactams, are mainly detectable in freshwater and soils contaminated by wastewater or manure.

The lack of research on resistance in air, oceans and green spaces, as well as in low-income regions that are most affected by health consequences, is worrying. Only one percent of the studies come from countries such as Afghanistan or Ethiopia, while a third come from China and the USA. The role of climate change and microplastics also remains under-examined, although these factors could accelerate the spread of resistance.

Dr Brian Gardner, Computational Biology Research Officer at the University of Surrey, emphasised that the knowledge gaps about the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in different environmental contexts are a ‘silent emergency’. Without rapid research, there is a risk of uncontrolled spread. Dr. Gianni Lo Iacono, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, pointed to the need to expand research to low-income regions and diverse environments to effectively combat the global threat. The study, made possible by the collaboration of 55 experts, underlines the urgent need for action for a “One Health” approach that considers humans, animals and the environment in a networked way.

Original Paper:

Mapping the evidence of the effects of environmental factors on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the non-built environment – ScienceDirect

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