Giuseppe
Emeritus
[Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
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The Scourge of Antibiotic Resistance: The Important Role of the Environment
Rita L. Finley 1, Peter Collignon 2, D. G. Joakim Larsson 3, Scott A. McEwen 4, Xian-Zhi Li 5, William H. Gaze 6, Richard Reid-Smith 7, Mohammed Timinouni 8, David W. Graham 9, and Edward Topp 10
Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario <SUP>2</SUP>Infectious Diseases Unit and Microbiology Department, The Canberra Hospital and Canberra Clinical School, Australian National University <SUP>3</SUP>Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden <SUP>4</SUP>Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada <SUP>5</SUP>Veterinary Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario <SUP>6</SUP>European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Exeter University Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, United Kingdom <SUP>7</SUP>Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario <SUP>8</SUP>Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca <SUP>9</SUP>School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom <SUP>10</SUP>Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, Ontario
Correspondence: Rita Finley, MSc, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, 255 Woodlawn Road Unit 120, Guelph, ON, N1H 8J1, Canada (rita.finley@phac-aspc.gc.ca).
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.
Key words
antibiotic resistance ? environment - human resistant infections
Received January 18, 2013. Accepted May 15, 2013.
? The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
-Rita L. Finley 1, Peter Collignon 2, D. G. Joakim Larsson 3, Scott A. McEwen 4, Xian-Zhi Li 5, William H. Gaze 6, Richard Reid-Smith 7, Mohammed Timinouni 8, David W. Graham 9, and Edward Topp 10
Author Affiliations: <SUP>1</SUP>Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario <SUP>2</SUP>Infectious Diseases Unit and Microbiology Department, The Canberra Hospital and Canberra Clinical School, Australian National University <SUP>3</SUP>Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden <SUP>4</SUP>Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada <SUP>5</SUP>Veterinary Drugs Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario <SUP>6</SUP>European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Exeter University Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, United Kingdom <SUP>7</SUP>Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, Ontario <SUP>8</SUP>Molecular Bacteriology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca <SUP>9</SUP>School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, United Kingdom <SUP>10</SUP>Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, London, Ontario
Correspondence: Rita Finley, MSc, Centre for Food-borne, Environmental and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Public Health Agency of Canada, 255 Woodlawn Road Unit 120, Guelph, ON, N1H 8J1, Canada (rita.finley@phac-aspc.gc.ca).
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.
Key words
antibiotic resistance ? environment - human resistant infections
Received January 18, 2013. Accepted May 15, 2013.
? The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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