For many cities, air quality is a major public health concern — and new research has shown that it’s not just exhaust fumes people need to be worried about. For at least 19 global cities, genes from antibiotic resistant bacteria present a unique threat: The airborne antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) could lead the way to serious and potentially lethal infections for millions of people. While antibiotic-resistant bacteria are already a major threat, the new research has confirmed that ARGs can be spread through the air — a finding that’s prompting even greater concerns for the future.
Antibiotic resistance is considered one of the biggest threats to global health,
according to the World Health Organization. Overuse and misuse are some of the driving forces behind the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Some two million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria every year in the United States alone — and that number is expected to rise dramatically in the coming years. It’s estimated that antibiotic resistance will kill up to 10 million people annually by the year 2050.
