Antibiotic resistance genes in aerosols: a review

Abstract

Recently, drug resistance resulted from the extensive abuse and over-use of antibiotics has posed a great threat to human health. Scholars have conducted numerous studies on the impacts of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different types of environments. Aerosol is not only a potential reservoir for ARGs, but also an important route for transmission of ARGs in the environment. However, a systematic summary of its sources, transmission, human exposure, and health risks is lacking. This review focused on four types of typical sites for aerosol research: human functional living places, farms, urban wastewater treatment plants, and hospitals. The sources, transmission routes, human exposure, and health risks of ARGs in the aerosol of these four typical sites were reviewed. This article also provides a reference for prevention and control of ARGs in aerosols.