Abstract
Population-based public health data on antibiotic resistance gene carriage is poorly surveyed. Research of the human microbiome as an antibiotic resistance reservoir has primarily focused on gut associated microbial communities, but data have shown more widespread microbial colonization across organs than originally believed, with organs previously considered as sterile being colonized. Our study demonstrates the utility of postmortem microbiome sampling during routine autopsy as a method to survey antibiotic resistance carriage in a general population. Postmortem microbial sampling detected pathogens of public health concern including genes for multidrug efflux pumps, carbapenem, methicillin, vancomycin, and polymixin resistances. Results suggest that postmortem assessments of host-associated microbial communities are useful in acquiring community specific data while reducing selective-participant biases.
Highlights
Antibiotic resistance (AR) mechanisms are creating an enormous clinical and financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide, and have greatly contributed to newly emerging pathogens, epidemics, and pandemics [1,2,3]
The similarity of the bacterial communities among cases was relatively high, with differences in mean community similarity being largely explained by bacterial richness (r2 = 0.62, P = 2.5e-5)
Macrolide resistance genes were most common in qPCR assays, while multidrug efflux pumps were common in metagenomes
Summary
Antibiotic resistance (AR) mechanisms are creating an enormous clinical and financial burden on healthcare systems worldwide, and have greatly contributed to newly emerging pathogens, epidemics, and pandemics [1,2,3]. In the US, the CDC reports that at least 2 million people become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria each year, and at least 23,000 people die as a result of those infections [4]. A WHO report issued in May 2014 estimated a yearly cost of $21 to $34 billion attributed to AR within the US healthcare system alone, with 8 million additional days spent in the hospital [5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
