Water scarcity due to droughts could usher in a public health crisis by creating an ideal environment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to thrive, warns a new study.
Pioneered by scholars at the University of California, Berkeley, the research raises concerns regarding the greater prevalence of drug-resistant microbes in drought-plagued regions. As per the researchers, the dehydrated conditions brought on by drought reduce visibly polluted water. Farmers and communities depending on these water sources for irrigation and consumption may inadvertently propagate bacteria with the capabilities to resist antibiotics.
Highlighting this significant discovery, lead researcher and microbiologist, Prof. Kara Nelson said, “Our research has important implications for water management during drought periods besides highlighting the urgency to address antibiotic resistance.”
The research outcome, published in the esteemed journal Environmental Science & Technology, linked recurrent drought conditions with a higher saturation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic-resistant genes in soil and water. The team reached this worrisome conclusion after studying samples from 12 California river basins during periods of flooding as well as drought.
According to Nelson, “We found that the absolute abundance of antibiotic-resistant genes was nine times higher in samples collected during drought periods compared to flooding.” They also identified a proportional increase in antibiotic-resistant genes in conditions where more wastewater was used for irrigation.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a grave peril to global health. Their emergence and exponential proliferation threaten to thrust us into a problematic era of untreatable infections. Already, two million Americans contract antibiotic-resistant infections annually, with an estimated 23,000 losing their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization claims that antibiotic resistance could cause ten million deaths annually by 2050, surpassing cancer to become the leading cause of death. They attribute antibiotic resistance to overuse and misuse of these drugs, along with the incidental ingestion of resistant bacteria through contaminated food or water.
Adding to these threats, over the past several years, areas across Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America have experienced increasingly severe droughts, partly due to climate change. This global pattern, coupled with the new research findings, propels a critical need for action.
David Cwiertny, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Iowa but not involved in the study, termed these results as “alarming.” He stated, “This study suggests inadvertent consequences of drought that have received little attention to date and intensifies the impetus for improved water management.”
While Nelson and her team recommend comprehensive surveillance of antibiotic resistance and prudent use of water resources, critics argue it’s a tricky balance. “Safeguarding water supplies will require trade-offs between various competing needs like agriculture, recreation, and drinking water,” said Emily Van Houweling, a lecturer on water management at Virginia Tech University.
The study certainly calls for continuing vigilance and innovative strategies in managing resources to curb the daunting problem of antibiotic resistance. As Nelson sums up, “Understanding how drought impacts microbial communities is foundational to build a sustainable, healthy environment and society.”
By revealing a serious public health threat visiting our shores through an unfamiliar route, this study elevates the urgency of robust, holistic solutions to address the double jeopardy posed by antibiotic resistance and climate change-induced drought.
Original Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/droughts-are-the-ideal-breeding-ground-for-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-study-warns
