Increasing the transmission of drug-resistant bacteria from human communities to nature
Bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics have become a serious problem both in Japan and abroad.
Experts say drug-resistant bacteria are becoming increasingly common because of overuse or misuse of antibiotics, including in patients who stop taking the drugs without following their doctor's instructions while the microbes remain in their bodies. they stay
The research focus of this group was on E.coli ST 131 clone, which has high antibiotic resistance.
During the study, ST 131 was isolated from lake and river water samples, as well as animal feces in wildlife, including raccoons and deer, taken in prefectures including Gifu and Shiga for six years until 2021. The researchers then analyzed their genetic characteristics.
They also analyzed ST 131 derived from urine samples from people in the same region to compare them with the genetic background of the environmentally derived samples.
The analyzes indicate a close genetic similarity between human ST 131 and aquatic environments and wildlife, which indicates the possible spread of the bacterium from the human community to the natural environment.
The group says this is the first time in Japan that the spread of drug-resistant bacteria has been shown based on their genetic information, according to NHK.
These experts also warn that if no action is taken, drug-resistant bacteria can spread further in nature and then return from animals to people, causing new outbreaks of infectious diseases.
Sato Toyotaka, an associate professor at Hokkaido University's Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, said that in future studies, he wants to identify how drug-resistant bacteria spread from people to nature and how to prevent their spread.
In its previous statements, the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly emphasized that antimicrobial resistance is one of the most important threats to public health and global development.
Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria were responsible for an estimated 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019 and could cause 10 million deaths a year by 2050 if no action is taken, the organization and other health bodies say.
Source: ISNA
