suggests this isn't the only way resistant bacteria can spread. According to researchers from China and the UK, air pollution may also be spreading antibiotic resistance.
This is the first study to comprehensively estimate the link between increased antibiotic resistance and air pollution globally.The review analysed the findings of previous studies that looked at patterns of the airborne spread of antibiotic resistance over nearly two decades. They looked at 12 research studies conducted across 116 countries – including the UK, US, China, India and Australia. These studies estimated the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria or genes in the atmosphere..
The study found that antibiotic resistance rose alongside increasing PM2.5 concentrations in the air. Every 10% rise in the concentration of PM2.5 was linked with a 1.1% global increase in antibiotic resistance and 43,654 deaths from antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The study reported that the highest levels of antibiotic resistance were seen in north Africa and west Asia. These areas also had the most severe PM2.5 pollution. In comparison, Europe and North America – which had the lowest average levels of PM2.5 pollution – also had lower levels of antibiotic resistance.
The study also reported that even just a 1% increase in PM2.5 across all regions was associated with an increase in