![]() Fortunately, a technology called next-generation sequencing now allows us to look at all the resistance genes within all the bacteria in a sample. Until recently, we have only been able to investigate how resistance develops in bacteria grown in a laboratory or to look for a handful of specific resistance genes in a sample of bacteria collected from people, animals or the environment. However, it is largely unknown how much each location promotes the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Therefore, locations where antibiotics are commonly used – such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, livestock facilities (such as feedlots) and crop production areas (such as orchards) – may help antibiotic resistance to develop and spread. In general, using antibiotics increases the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance. In order to slow the spread of antibiotic resistance, it is important to understand how and where this resistance develops. Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem, and many fear a “post-antibiotic era” in which common infections become life threatening. When bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, it becomes difficult or impossible to treat infections in both people and animals. This report highlights the utility and limitations of metagenomics for assessing public health risks regarding antimicrobial resistance, and demonstrates that environmental pathways may represent a greater risk than the food supply. ARDs were not identified in beef products, suggesting that slaughter interventions may reduce the risk of transmission of ARDs to beef consumers. Resistome diversity decreased while cattle were in the feedlot, indicating selective pressure. We recorded antimicrobial drug exposures and interrogated the resistome at points in production when management procedures could potentially influence ARD abundance and/or transmission. ![]() We collected pooled samples from 8 groups of 1741 commercial cattle as they moved through the process of beef production from feedlot entry through slaughter. The public health risk posed by these two routes is not well understood, particularly in non-pathogenic bacteria. Antimicrobial resistant determinants (ARDs) can be transmitted from livestock systems through meat products or environmental effluents.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |