Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue
Antibiotics revolutionized modern medicine and have been an excellent tool to fight infections. However, their overuse and misuse in different human activities such as health care, food production and agriculture has resulted in a global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Some regions such as Latin Am...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Water |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/19/2693 |
| _version_ | 1797515672384700416 |
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| author | Delfina C. Domínguez Luz María Chacón D’Janique Wallace |
| author_facet | Delfina C. Domínguez Luz María Chacón D’Janique Wallace |
| author_sort | Delfina C. Domínguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antibiotics revolutionized modern medicine and have been an excellent tool to fight infections. However, their overuse and misuse in different human activities such as health care, food production and agriculture has resulted in a global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Some regions such as Latin America present a more complex scenario because of the lack of resources, systematic studies and legislation to control the use of antimicrobials, thus increasing the spread of antibiotic resistance. This review aims to summarize the state of environmental antibiotic resistance in Latin America, focusing on water resources. Three databases were searched to identify publications on antimicrobial resistance and anthropogenic activities in relation to natural and artificial water ecosystems. We found that antibiotic resistant bacteria, mainly against beta lactam antibiotics, have been reported in several Latin American countries, and that resistant bacteria as well as resistant genes can be isolated from a wide variety of aquatic environments, including drinking, surface, irrigation, sea and wastewater. It is urgent to establish policies and regulations for antibiotic use to prevent the increase of multi-drug resistant microorganisms in the environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:48:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0faf656121648a4a76b2f04c5a0589b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:48:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0faf656121648a4a76b2f04c5a0589b2023-11-22T17:01:10ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-09-011319269310.3390/w13192693Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water IssueDelfina C. Domínguez0Luz María Chacón1D’Janique Wallace2Clinical Laboratory Science Program, Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave. HSSN 420, El Paso, TX 79968, USAHealth Research Institute (INISA), University of Costa Rica, P.O. Box 11501-2060, San Pedro de Montes de Oca 11502, Costa RicaBiology Department, El Paso Community College, P.O. Box 20500, El Paso, TX 79998, USAAntibiotics revolutionized modern medicine and have been an excellent tool to fight infections. However, their overuse and misuse in different human activities such as health care, food production and agriculture has resulted in a global antimicrobial resistance crisis. Some regions such as Latin America present a more complex scenario because of the lack of resources, systematic studies and legislation to control the use of antimicrobials, thus increasing the spread of antibiotic resistance. This review aims to summarize the state of environmental antibiotic resistance in Latin America, focusing on water resources. Three databases were searched to identify publications on antimicrobial resistance and anthropogenic activities in relation to natural and artificial water ecosystems. We found that antibiotic resistant bacteria, mainly against beta lactam antibiotics, have been reported in several Latin American countries, and that resistant bacteria as well as resistant genes can be isolated from a wide variety of aquatic environments, including drinking, surface, irrigation, sea and wastewater. It is urgent to establish policies and regulations for antibiotic use to prevent the increase of multi-drug resistant microorganisms in the environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/19/2693Latin Americaantibiotic resistanceantibiotic-resistance geneshuman activitieswater sourcesanthropogenic activities |
| spellingShingle | Delfina C. Domínguez Luz María Chacón D’Janique Wallace Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue Water Latin America antibiotic resistance antibiotic-resistance genes human activities water sources anthropogenic activities |
| title | Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue |
| title_full | Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue |
| title_fullStr | Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue |
| title_short | Anthropogenic Activities and the Problem of Antibiotic Resistance in Latin America: A Water Issue |
| title_sort | anthropogenic activities and the problem of antibiotic resistance in latin america a water issue |
| topic | Latin America antibiotic resistance antibiotic-resistance genes human activities water sources anthropogenic activities |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/19/2693 |
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