Study: Climate Change Reportedly Fueling 10% Rise in Antibiotic Resistance
Researchers found warming and shifting rainfall are linked to 10% of a 38% global rise in Salmonella resistance genes.
- Climate change is linked to a 10 per cent global increase in antibiotic-resistance genes in salmonella, according to research published this week in The Lancet Planetary Health analyzing more than 480,000 salmonella genomes from 139 countries between 1940 and 2023.
- Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that environmental shifts accelerate bacterial adaptation to antibiotics through rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns, with extreme flooding and drought both amplifying resistance gene transmission in water systems.
- Warmer temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius, extended humidity, and daylight over 12 hours triggered increased Salmonella cases, with 82 per cent of nations showing rising resistance genes and strongest climate-linked increases in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Dr Laura Gonzalez Villeta, first author at the University of Surrey, said the research provides "a valuable tool for predicting future risks and tailoring interventions, particularly in the context of climate change." Researchers emphasized that addressing climate change alongside antimicrobial stewardship is essential to safeguard public health.
- By 2100, antibiotic-resistance genes in salmonella will continue rising, but if countries meet low-emission climate targets and strengthen responsible antibiotics use, resistance levels could be 24 per cent lower than in the highest-emission scenario.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Climate change linked to rising antibiotic resistance in Salmonella
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is mainly driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which allows resistant bacteria to survive and spread. However, rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns can influence how bacteria survive, mutate, and spread, potentially increasing the exchange of antibiotic resistance genes. While previous studies have linked higher temperatures to greater levels of resistant bacteria, global quantitative stud…
Climate Change Linked to Rising Antibiotic Resistance in Salmonella | Science-Environment
A study highlights a 10% rise in antibiotic resistance genes in salmonella due to climate change, with significant increases in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. It underscores the importance of climate action and responsible antibiotic use to counteract AMR spread.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
