Antibiotic resistance is a rapidly emerging major risk, about which health experts have been raising concerns in many studies. Antibiotic resistance means that bacteria that are designed to kill bacteria become resistant to the same drug. If this happens, even if you have a minor infection and antibiotics are given for it, the germs do not die but keep on growing, serious infection can even be fatal. It is believed that this risk is increasing rapidly due to excessive use of antibiotics.
Scientists warn - 'We will be in dire need of medicines but they will not have any effect'
To understand the causes of antibiotic resistance, researchers have made a big revelation in a study. The team of scientists says that air pollution can increase this risk. If this risk is to be reduced then it has become very important to control air pollution.
Air pollution and antibiotic resistance
According to research published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, controlling air pollution could help reduce antibiotic resistance. The link between PM2.5 air pollution and increased antibiotic resistance has been shown to strengthen over time. An analysis of data from 116 countries from 2000 to 2018 found that increased levels of PM2.5 in the atmosphere have led to a large increase in antibiotic resistance in recent years. As pollution levels continue to increase, the danger may become greater with time.
PM2.5 level is increasing in the atmosphere
It is noteworthy that industrial processes, road transport, and burning of coal and wood are considered to be the main sources of PM2.5 in the atmosphere. Previous research indicates that 90 percent of the world's population (about 7.3 billion people) is directly exposed to PM 2.5 levels, 80 percent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. There may be a risk of antibiotic resistance in all of these.
What do researchers say?
Professor Hong Chen, lead researcher and author of China's Zhejiang University, says, that discussing antibiotic resistance becomes very important because the risk of many types of infectious diseases is increasing globally. Many sources in our daily lives can cause PM 2.5 to increase in the atmosphere.
However till now no concrete evidence has been found to establish air pollution and antibiotic resistance. There is no evidence, but studies are emphasizing that controlling air pollution may provide benefits.
What are the findings of the study?
The study's findings indicate that antibiotic resistance increases with PM2.5, with each 1% increase in air pollution leading to a 0.5 to 1.9% increase in antibiotic resistance, depending on the pathogen. This relationship has strengthened over time, with changes in PM2.5 levels leading to large increases in antibiotic resistance in recent years.
The study's analysis indicates that antibiotic resistance caused by air pollution caused an estimated 480,000 premature deaths in 2018, with the risk being even higher in the future.
(PC: iStock)
