Environmental impacts of mass drug administration programs: exposures, risks, and mitigation of antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

Mass drug administration (MDA) of antimicrobials has shown promise in the reduction and potential elimination of a variety of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). However, with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) becoming a global crisis, the risks posed by widespread antimicrobial use need to be evaluated. As the role of the environment in AMR emergence and dissemination has become increasingly recognized, it is likewise crucial to establish the role of MDA in environmental AMR pollution, along with the potential impacts of such pollution. This review presents the current state of knowledge on the antimicrobial compounds, resistant organisms, and antimicrobial resistance genes in MDA trials, routes of these determinants into the environment, and their persistence and ecological impacts, particularly in low and middle-income countries where these trials are most common. From the few studies directly evaluating AMR outcomes in azithromycin MDA trials, it is becoming apparent that MDA efforts can increase carriage and excretion of resistant pathogens in a lasting way. However, research on these outcomes for other antimicrobials used in MDA trials is sorely needed. Furthermore, while paths of AMR determinants from human waste to the environment and their persistence thereafter are supported by the literature, quantitative information on the scope and likelihood of this is largely absent. We recommend some mitigative approaches that would be valuable to consider in future MDA efforts. This review stands to be a valuable resource for researchers and policymakers seeking to evaluate the impacts of MDA. Graphical Abstract

Population structure of Phanaeus vindex (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in SE Michigan

“…This can leave pastures that provided habitat and food for dung beetles throughout the year for decades without a stable food source when they are most needed to provision their offspring ( Wassmer 2020a ). Another danger especially for dung beetle populations is the regular use of livestock dewormers ( Verdú et al 2015 , Manning et al 2018 , Finch et al 2020 , Ambrožová et al 2021 , Konopka et al 2022 , González-Gómez et al 2023 ). The combination of the stressors habitat loss, fragmentation, and unreliable food sources might also lead to more long distance dispersal.…”

Development of Novel Peptide-Modified Silver Nanoparticle-Based Rapid Biosensors for Detecting Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

“…These antibiotics exert their antimicrobial effect by irreversibly binding to the bacterial ribosome 30S subunit, thereby inhibitng protein synthesis . However, the extensive and frequently improper use of AGAs has given rise to concerns regarding their adverse impact on human health, environmental pollution, and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) . The ubiquitous use of AGAs in agriculture and veterinary medicine has resulted in their presence in surface runoff, water bodies, and environmental samples, leading to potential ecological consequences. , In addition to serious public health threats and risk of spreading resistance is evident across different geographical regions, ecological systems, and species .…”

Antibiotic resistance gene-free probiont administration to tilapia for growth performance and Streptococcus agalactiae resistance

“…Moreover, the relationship between fish and their environment has been investigated in species [43,44] such as channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus [45], Alburnus alburnus [46], sea bass [47], yellow tail fish [48], common carp and koi carp [49], shrimp [50], Ebro barbel (Luciobarbus graellsii), brown trout (Salmo trutta) [51], and tilapia (Oreochomis niloticus) [52,53]. Other sectors, such as animal husbandry and household waste, influence resistance genes in aquaculture [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66]. The interconnected roles of different sectors can impact the quality of the environment and contribute to the distribution of microorganisms, including the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.…”