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The Scourge of Antibiotic Resistance: The Important Role of the Environment

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TLDR
The rapid evolution and spread of "new" antibiotic resistance genes has been enhanced by modern human activity and its influence on the environmental resistome, which highlights the importance of including the role of the environmental vectors, such as bacterial genetic diversity within soil and water, in resistance risk management.
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance and associated genes are ubiquitous and ancient, with most genes that encode resistance in human pathogens having originated in bacteria from the natural environment (eg, β-lactamases and fluoroquinolones resistance genes, such as qnr). The rapid evolution and spread of "new" antibiotic resistance genes has been enhanced by modern human activity and its influence on the environmental resistome. This highlights the importance of including the role of the environmental vectors, such as bacterial genetic diversity within soil and water, in resistance risk management. We need to take more steps to decrease the spread of resistance genes in environmental bacteria into human pathogens, to decrease the spread of resistant bacteria to people and animals via foodstuffs, wastes and water, and to minimize the levels of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria introduced into the environment. Reducing this risk must include improved management of waste containing antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.

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Journal ArticleDOI

Evolution of antibiotic resistance at low antibiotic concentrations including selection below the minimal selective concentration.

TL;DR: The minimal selective concentrations (MSCs) for macrolide and fluoroquinolone antibiotics included on the European Commissionʼs Water Framework Directive’s priority hazardous substances Watch List were determined and differential rates of negative selection were associated with elevated prevalence relative to the no antibiotic control below the MSC.
Journal ArticleDOI

Antibiotic resistome from the One-Health perspective: understanding and controlling antimicrobial resistance transmission.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the previously established concept of the resistome, which encompasses all types of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and the important findings from each one-health sector considering this concept, thereby emphasizing the significance of the One-Health approach in understanding ARG transmission.
Journal ArticleDOI

Epidemiological Evidence and Health Risks Associated With Agricultural Reuse of Partially Treated and Untreated Wastewater: A Review.

TL;DR: Appropriate mitigation lies in adhering to existing guidelines such as the World Health Organization wastewater reuse guidelines and to Sanitation Safety Plans (SSPs), and improvement in hygiene practices will also provide measures against adverse health impacts.
Journal ArticleDOI

Science-based Targets for Antibiotics in Receiving Waters from Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Operations

TL;DR: This paper summarizes the holistic approach taken to derive science‐based receiving water targets for antibiotics discharged from manufacturing operations and includes previously unpublished, company‐generated, environmental toxicity data.
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Exploring the Animal Waste Resistome: The Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Through the Use of Livestock Manure.

TL;DR: This review analyzed the most recent research on antibiotic and ARG environmental dissemination conveyed by livestock waste to identify methods for monitoring DNA transferability and environmental conditions promoting such diffusion.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Antibiotics in the aquatic environment - A review - Part II

TL;DR: This review brings up important questions that are still open, and addresses some significant issues which must be tackled in the future for a better understanding of the behavior of antibiotics in the environment, as well as the risks associated with their occurrence.
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Antibiotic resistance is ancient

TL;DR: Target metagenomic analyses of rigorously authenticated ancient DNA from 30,000-year-old Beringian permafrost sediments are reported and show conclusively that antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon that predates the modern selective pressure of clinical antibiotic use.
BookDOI

Water for Food Water for Life : A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture

TL;DR: Molden et al. as discussed by the authors presented a comprehensive assessment of water management in agriculture, focusing on water for food, water for life, and water for the future of agriculture.
Journal ArticleDOI

Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in water environments

TL;DR: Methods to reduce resistant bacterial load in wastewaters, and the amount of antimicrobial agents, in most cases originated in hospitals and farms, include optimization of disinfection procedures and management of wastewater and manure.
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