Table2_Antimicrobials and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Water Bodies: Pollution, Risk, and Control.DOCX

The manuscript endeavors to provide a perspective on the role of water bodies in the spread of antimicrobial (antibiotic) resistance (AMR), antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB), and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) among pathogens, animals, and humans. We briefly indicate how the AMR problem is globally affecting public health, along with strategies and mechanisms to combat the dissemination of ARB and ARGs. A brief systematic survey of the literature (2015-onwards) for the presence of antimicrobial residues and the occurrence of ARGs and antimicrobial resistant microorganisms in different water bodies/sources indicates the gravity of the situation and suggests their important role in the occurrence and spread of AMR, ARB, and ARGs. The prevalent water treatment methods which tend to reduce ARB and ARGs from water resources are unable to remove them completely, allowing the problem of AMR to continue and spread to organisms of concern. In this opinion article, we attempt to underline the key role of controlling the release/discharge of antimicrobial contaminants in water bodies and their buildup in checking the development and spread of AMR. The reduction in the release of antibiotic residues in the environment, especially water bodies, combined with the development of improved surveillance means and efficacious treatment/removal/decomposition methods could help curb the menace of AMR effectively. We suggest the expansion of the ambit of ‘One Health Approach to AMR crises proposed by the World Bank, 2021 to include the ‘reduction of antimicrobial contamination of the environment’ as the ‘seventh domain’ of activity to effectively achieve its objective.

本研究论文旨在探讨水体在抗微生物（抗生素）耐药性（AMR）、抗微生物耐药细菌（ARB）以及抗微生物耐药基因（ARGs）在病原体、动物和人类间传播中所扮演的角色。我们简要指出，AMR问题正全球性地影响公共卫生，并阐述了应对ARB和ARGs传播的策略和机制。对文献的简要系统回顾（自2015年起）显示，不同水体/源头中存在抗菌残留物、ARGs和抗菌耐药微生物的现象，揭示了该问题的严重性，并指出其在AMR、ARB和ARGs的发生和传播中的重要作用。目前普遍的水处理方法虽能减少水资源中的ARB和ARGs，却无法彻底去除，导致AMR问题持续存在并蔓延至关注的生物体。在本文中，我们试图强调控制水体中抗菌污染物排放/排放以及其积累在遏制AMR发展和传播中的关键作用。通过减少环境中抗生素残留物的排放，特别是在水体中，结合改进的监测手段和有效的处理/去除/分解方法，可以有效遏制AMR的威胁。我们建议将世界银行于2021年提出的针对AMR危机的‘一体化健康方法’的范畴扩展，将‘减少环境抗菌污染’作为‘第七个活动领域’，以有效实现其目标。