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Investigating microplastic occurrences in coastal surface seawaters and their potential role as transport vectors for multidrug-resistant E. coli
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Researchers investigated microplastic occurrences in coastal surface seawaters and examined whether microplastics serve as transport vectors for multidrug-resistant E. coli, addressing a gap in comparable long-term data on microplastic contamination in aquatic systems. The thesis found that microplastics in coastal environments can carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria, raising concerns about their role in spreading antimicrobial resistance.
The pervasive nature of microplastics (synthetic items of less than 5 mm) throughout aquatic environments has been found to impart upon these habitats a myriad of negative effects. The work described in this thesis aims to address the existing need for comparable, long-term data on MP occurrences in aquatic systems as well as to investigate their role as transport vectors for multidrug-resistant E. coli.
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The Travelling Particles: Investigating microplastics as possible transport vectors for multidrug resistant E. coli in the Weser estuary (Germany)
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Scientists tested whether microplastics in the Weser estuary in Germany carry multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli, finding resistant bacteria on plastic surfaces at concentrations above surrounding water, confirming that microplastics can serve as vectors for antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Microplastics as a novel facilitator for antimicrobial resistance: Effects of concentration, composition, and size on Escherichia coli multidrug resistance
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This study examined how microplastics facilitate antimicrobial resistance by acting as a surface for the co-selection of resistant bacteria, finding that plastic surfaces enrich resistance genes and transfer-capable elements in aquatic environments.
Marine outfall discharges contribute to coastal microplastic pollution and the spread of antimicrobial resistance
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Researchers investigated how marine outfall discharges from wastewater treatment plants contribute to coastal microplastic pollution and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They found that microplastics in treated wastewater effluent can serve as reservoirs for multidrug-resistant bacteria, potentially transferring them to the marine environment. The study challenges current regulations that permit marine outfall disposal and suggests that microplastics may facilitate the spread of antimicrobial resistance in coastal waters.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria colonising microplastics in the aquatic environment: An emerging challenge
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics in aquatic environments act as surfaces where antibiotic-resistant bacteria can grow and swap resistance genes with each other, raising concern that contaminated seafood and water could transfer these hard-to-treat bacteria to humans.
Microplastics pollution in the ocean: Potential carrier of resistant bacteria and resistance genes
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This review examined microplastics in marine environments as carriers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes, finding that plastic surfaces selectively enrich resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer and co-selection pressure, making ocean microplastics a vector for resistance dissemination across ecosystems.
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