Routine Autopsy for Population Health Surveillance Revealed Through Antibiotic Resistance Gene Detection

Question: Can antibiotic resistance gene surveillance in a human population be improved through sampling the postmortem microbiome of cases during autopsy?Findings: In this population-based, cross-sectional study of 39 postmortem microbiomes, pathogens of great public health concern along with antibiotic resistance genes associated with common and last-resort treatments, such as carbapenems and polymixins, were detected in a general population.Meaning: Microbial sampling during routine autopsy leads itself to be a viable method to survey antibiotic resistance gene dissemination in the community.