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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

Enhanced antibacterial activity and mechanism studies of Ag/Bi2O3 nanocomposites

TL;DR: In this paper, a sphere-like Ag/Bi 2 O 3 nanocomposites with the average size of 170 nm were successfully synthesized by simple deposition-precipitation method.
Journal ArticleDOI

Policy options for reducing antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant genes in the environment.

TL;DR: The evidence on the role of agriculture, aquaculture, domestic waste and pharmaceutical manufacturing in the spread of antibiotic resistance is reviewed, concluding that all of these activities pose a potentially serious threat.
Journal ArticleDOI

Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase, AmpC, and MBL-Producing Gram-Negative Bacteria on Fresh Vegetables and Ready-to-Eat Salads Sold in Local Markets.

TL;DR: The study has demonstrated the occurrence and distribution of ESBL/AmpC and MBL strains in fresh vegetables and RTE salads in Italy and possible public health risks associated with consumption of these fresh products.
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.
Journal ArticleDOI

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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