In a study published in Genome medicine, scientists looked at which antibiotic resistance genes people in the Netherlands bring from their trips.
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a global problem that kills about 700,000 people a year. The situation with it is deteriorating around the world, but in different regions the level of antibiotic resistance differs. It is usually higher in low- and middle-income countries. This is mainly due to increased use of antibiotics.
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Previously, scientists have shown that international travel contributes to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria around the world. However, people who return from abroad are rarely tested for bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes unless they develop disease symptoms. Therefore, information about the problem is limited. Only a small number of genes are now known to spread in this way.
A new study was conducted in the Netherlands. Scientists took fecal swabs of 190 people in the country before they went on trips to countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, North and East Africa. The examination was repeated after their return. The authors of the scientific work analyzed the genes of bacteria in these stool samples (intestinal microbiome).
In total, the scientists found 56 unique genes associated with different mechanisms of antibiotic resistance that appeared in humans in the gut microbiome after returning. There was an association between the appearance of certain genes and the direction of the trip: they were similar in people who traveled to the same region.
«My impression is that only a limited number of genes antibiotic resistance can circulate very widely. This study showed that the problem is wider. There is a whole arsenal of antibiotic resistance genes that you can pick up while traveling,” said Johan Bengtsson-Palme of the University of Gothenburg, who conducted research on the topic six years ago.
The authors of the study note that the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in intestinal bacteria does not pose a danger to a person while he is healthy. However, once an infection develops, it can be difficult to treat. In addition, they can transmit these bacteria to other people, including those who are seriously ill.