Monitoring the potential dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in foods, environment, and clinical samples: a one health prospective

Circulation of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria in the environment, animals, and humans is a major concern. Food chain is an important link to spread AMR across the biosphere. Global warming, preserved and fast foods availability, random use of un-prescribed antimicrobials, unplanned bio-waste management, and using high doses of antibiotics and bio-fertilizers to agricultural fields and animal farms, increase the threat of spreading AMR bacteria. Current study reports prevalence of AMR in enteric pathogens isolated from food, food handlers, environment, and diarrheal patients. The incidence data on AMR pathogens were collected from Assam, Sikkim, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh, India, through a well-structured market and hospital surveillance. There  were 428 (3.0%) enteric pathogens detected in food and 184 (5.3%) in clinical samples. Most of the pathogens were resistant (70–100%) to commonly used antimicrobials in treatment of diarrheal infection. Result showed a spread of AMR across food chain, underscoring need for swift preventive intervention.