Using metagenomics to find causes of antibiotic resistance
Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials have led to a global health crisis: antimicrobial resistance (AMR), including multidrug-resistant superbugs. Common misconceptions that contribute to the problem have proven difficult to dispel; for example, 30% of Europeans believe that antibiotics are effective against colds (Eurobarometer 2022). One important arm of the multipronged strategy to tackle AMR is surveillance, but the current focus on clinical settings is too narrow. Microbes – including bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) – are everywhere, and environments…
