"Researchers discovered that drought conditions can boost both soil-dwelling and human-hosted bacteria's ability to resist antibiotics. As rising global temperatures dry out more of the world, more people may be exposed to these treatment-immune pathogens."
"Dianne Newman, senior author of the study, emphasizes that the data are a wake-up call for people to pay attention to antibiotic resistance, linking it to the increasing aridity index."
"Antibiotic resistance isn't a new problem, but connecting it to climate change is an emerging area of interest, with many unanswered questions about how a warmer world will influence disease."
Drought has visible consequences like wildfires and crop failures, but it also promotes antibiotic resistance in bacteria. A study published in Nature Microbiology reveals that drought conditions enhance the ability of both soil and human-associated bacteria to resist antibiotics. As global temperatures rise, the prevalence of these treatment-resistant pathogens may increase. Researchers found a strong correlation between aridity and antibiotic resistance, highlighting the urgent need to address this issue in the context of climate change and public health.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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