Scientists Look For Antibiotic-Resistant Germs In Raw Sewage
To track the spread of bacteria that resist antibiotics, researchers are trying wastewater testing to get a fast, accurate picture.
Humanity is rapidly approaching a post-antibiotic era. Overuse of these miracle drugs has contributed to the emergence of many bacterial strains that are resistant to once-effective treatments.
Our interconnected world and bacteria's ability to quickly swap genes that confer resistance with distant relatives make mapping hotbeds of resistance especially important.
Where should we look?
Sewage would be a good place to start, according to a study in the journal The paper highlights how tracking antibiotic-resistance genes in bacteria found in urban wastewater
