Forum Talk: Is antimicrobial resistance in rivers a public health risk?
Speaker: Elitsa Penkova, PhD Researcher, European Centre for Environment & Human Health, University of Exeter
Abstract: The role of natural environments in the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to the public remains poorly understood. Freshwater environments, in particular, are subject to environmental release, maintenance and mixing of AMR bacteria associated with mobile genetic elements (Taylor et al., 2011, Nnadozie and Odume, 2019). In addition, the discharge and accumulation of various sources of pollution, including antimicrobials and biocides, have been argued to contribute to the emergence and evolution of AMR in aquatic environments (O’Flaherty and Cummins, 2017). Human recreational activities in these areas, such as ‘wild swimming’ (swimming in waters not designated for bathing) which is seeing a rise in popularity amongst the public (Gascon et al., 2017, Bates and Moles, 2022), increase the risk of exposure to waterborne bacteria, thereby increasing the risk of AMR transmission. It is therefore critical to understand the risks posed to human health by the presence of AMR bacteria in freshwater environments. The current study aims to investigate the association between freshwater swimming in the UK and the acquisition of antibiotic resistance by the gut microbiome. The research involves sequencing bacterial diversity from faecal samples to assess the links between gut diversity, exposure to contaminated freshwater environments and colonisation by antimicrobial resistance determinants.
