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Geospatial Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the US EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment Survey
Citation:
Keely, S., N. Brinkman, E. Wheaton, M. Jahne, S. Siefring, M. Varma, R. Hill, S. Leibowitz, R. Martin, J. Garland, AND Rich Haugland. Geospatial Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the US EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment Survey. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 56(21):14960–14971, (2022). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c00813
Impact/Purpose:
The national- and ecoregional scale patterns of several antimicrobial resistance genes, fecal indicator bacteria and anthropogenic indicator (intI1) measured in US rivers and streams are described. Associations of gene concentrations with fecal pollution, watershed integrity and urbanization are evaluated. Gene concentrations will be compared to the same gene occurrences in the next NRSA cycle.
Description:
Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a serious global problem due to the overuse of antimicrobials in human, animal, and agriculture sectors. There is intense research to control the dissemination of AR, but little is known regarding the environmental drivers influencing its spread. Although AR genes (ARGs) are detected in many different environments, the risk associated with the spread of these genes to microbial pathogens is unknown. Recreational microbial exposure risks are likely to be greater in water bodies receiving discharge from human and animal waste in comparison to less disturbed aquatic environments. Given this scenario, research practitioners are encouraged to consider an ecological context to assess the effect of environmental ARGs on public health. Here, we use a stratified, probabilistic survey of nearly 2000 sites to determine national patterns of the anthropogenic indicator class I integron Integrase gene (intI1) and several ARGs in 1.2 million kilometers of United States (US) rivers and streams. Gene concentrations were greater in eastern than in western regions and in rivers and streams in poor condition. These first of their kind findings on the national distribution of intI1 and ARGs provide new information to aid risk assessment and implement mitigation strategies to protect public health.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Geospatial Patterns of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the US EPA National Rivers and Streams Assessment Survey
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35737903/