Role of the Environment in the Transmission of Antimicrobial Resistance to Humans: A Review

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 49; no. 20; pp. 11993 - 12004
• Main Authors: Huijbers, Patricia M. C, Blaak, Hetty, de Jong, Mart C. M, Graat, Elisabeth A. M, Vandenbroucke-Grauls, Christina M. J. E, de Roda Husman, Ana Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 20-10-2015
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacteria; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteria - isolation & purification; beta-Lactamases - metabolism; Contamination; Disease transmission; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial - drug effects; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriaceae - drug effects; Enterobacteriaceae - isolation & purification; Enterobacteriaceae - metabolism; Enterococcus; Environment; Feces - microbiology; Food Microbiology; Gram-positive bacteria; Humans; Kwantitatieve Veterinaire Epidemiologie; Leerstoelgroep Kwantitatieve veterinaire epidemiologie; Manure; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology; Recreation; Soil Microbiology; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus infections; Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci - drug effects; Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci - isolation & purification; Water Microbiology; WIAS
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02566

To establish a possible role for the natural environment in the transmission of clinically relevant AMR bacteria to humans, a literature review was conducted to systematically collect and categorize evidence for human exposure to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Entero­bacteriaceae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. in the environment. In total, 239 datasets adhered to inclusion criteria. AMR bacteria were detected at exposure-relevant sites (35/38), including recreational areas, drinking water, ambient air, and shellfish, and in fresh produce (8/16). More datasets were available for environmental compartments (139/157), including wildlife, water, soil, and air/dust. Quantitative data from exposure-relevant sites (6/35) and environmental compartments (11/139) were scarce. AMR bacteria were detected in the contamination sources (66/66) wastewater and manure, and molecular data supporting their transmission from wastewater to the environment (1/66) were found. The abundance of AMR bacteria at exposure-relevant sites suggests risk for human exposure. Of publications pertaining to both environmental and human isolates, however, only one compared isolates from samples that had a clear spatial and temporal relationship, and no direct evidence was found for transmission to humans through the environment. To what extent the environment, compared to the clinical and veterinary domains, contributes to human exposure needs to be quantified. AMR bacteria in the environment, including sites relevant for human exposure, originate from contamination sources. Intervention strategies targeted at these sources could therefore limit emission of AMR bacteria to the environment.